In Memory of the Decembrists: A Present to Yuri Luzhkov

Voina (war) is also a Russian “art-anarch-punk gang” rapidly gaining notoriety for their provocative actions including mock-lynching gays and migrants (above, the victim is dressed in blue because blue means gay in Russian), overturning police cars, projecting a Skull and Crossbones on the Moscow White House, and staging an orgy in a museum and a Rock jam in a district court. Recently the group sparked a controversy that they themselves did not instigate; they won an award for artistic innovation from the Ministry of Culture, complete with a 15,000 dollar cash prize. The innovation in this case being the presenting of a giant khyunya (look it up yourself) to the State Security Service building in St. Petersburg, with the help of a drawbridge (why is there so rarely one around when you need it?).

Anarchism with all the Utopian character of its ideas is the only cohesive, honest and fearless power.

Is it my imagination our does Russia Today seem less than comfortable covering this story?

There is an excellent interview with members of the group at Don’t Panic. And for more on the strange and strained relations between street art and the world of galleries, auctions and awards, check out Exit Through The Gift Shop.