Symposium and talk on November 9th and 22nd at Belvedere 21, in cooperation with artmov
The list is frighteningly long, the fates are shocking. Artists and activists who defy the politically motivated attack on free expression are facing existential consequences in Russia. Their work shows willingness to take risks and resistance. The series of events designed by artmov and the Belvedere aims to help them gain visibility and solidarity.
Stella Rollig, Director General des Belvedere: We want to make the fates of critical artists in Russia visible by letting those close to them speak, as those affected cannot express themselves due to systematic repression and imprisonment. The Belvedere shows solidarity with activists in Russia and in exile who also use their art as a means of protest and freedom.
Simon Mraz, co-founder artmov: The symposium As long as it may take is intended to form the starting point for an initiative. This symposium aims to awaken and motivate artists and cultural workers living and working in Austria to deal with the topic and develop artistic initiatives and concepts that give courage and hope to artists in prison and their relatives
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SYMPOSIUM As long as it may take – artists in Russian custody
At the start of the symposium on November 9th, the German scholar and cultural scientist Irina Sherbakova will speak about the relationship between free critical thinking and artistic creation and Russian state power throughout history. Sherbakova is a founding member of the human rights organization “Memorial”, which has been committed to coming to terms with Stalinist tyranny and respecting human rights in Russia since 1989 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.
Following the presentation of some artists currently imprisoned in Russia and their work, relatives and close ones report on the background to the imprisonments and perspectives. For example, Ksenia Karpinskaya, lawyer for theater director Evgeniya Berkovich, Maria Bovenko talks about her friend, the artist Lyudmila Razumova, and Mikhail Kaluzhsky talks about his colleague and good acquaintance, the playwright Svetlana Petriychuk. After a short break, the activists Pavel Kogan, Lölja Nordic, Lidia Ozerskaia and Sasha Skorykh, living in exile in Vienna, discuss possibilities of resistance and solidarity from a distance.
TALK As long as it may take – artists in Russian custody
Sasha Skochilenko was imprisoned from April 2022 due to an artistic action against the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. She was released in August 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange. On November 22nd, she spoke to her mother Nadezhda Skochilenko and her partner Sonya Subbotina about their contact during detention.
Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova experienced what happens to countless critical artists and activists in Russia: She spent almost two years in prison in 2012/13. Under the precarious prison conditions, a correspondence developed between her and the influential philosopher Slavoj Žižek, which was published in 2014 under the title Comradely Greetings: The Prison Letters of Nadya and Slavoj was published. The event marks the first personal meeting between Tolokonnikova and Žižek – more than ten years after their correspondence.
The symposium on November 9th will take place in German and Russian, the discussions on November 22nd in English. Both events will be documented on film and photographs.
Free tickets are HERE available.
With support from the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport.
You can press photos HERE download.
SYMPOSIUM: As long as it may take – artists in Russian custody
After a keynote by Dr. Irina Sherbakova reports from relatives and close friends of artists in Russian custody (Panel 1) and Russian activists in (Vienna) exile (Panel 2).
Datum: November 9, 2024, 5:00 p.m
Art: Lectures and discussions
Ort: Belvedere 21
Arsenalstraße 1
1030 Wien
Austria
URL: https://www.belvedere.at/event/symposium-long-it-may-take-kuenstlerinnen-russischer-haft
TALK: As long as it may take – artists in Russian custody
Communications from prison: Sasha Skochilenko, Nadezhda Skochilenko and Sonya Subbotina, moderated by Simon Mraz Nadya Tolokonnikova meets Slavoj Žižek, moderated by Stella Rollig
Datum: November 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m
Art: Lectures and discussions
Ort: Belvedere 21
Arsenalstraße 1
1030 Wien
Austria
URL: https://www.belvedere.at/event/talk-long-it-may-take-kuenstlerinnen-russischer-haft