An act of politics, or an act of policing?

Date

Place

Moscow

Description

 

Lecture by Pavel Mitenko

AN ACT OF POLITICS, OR AN ACT OF POLICING?
Lecture
Pavel Mitenko
Thursday, November 6, 7.30 – 9.00 pm
Garage Education Center
Free admission
 

Today, politics takes place at the intersection of two opposing power methods: that of collaboration and that of dominance over others (policing). This confrontation transpires both openly, in plain sight, and latently, in terms of preserving existing orders. Is this opposition unique to a Russia on the brink of Soviet and Post-Soviet history? What political significance can be afforded to art in general, and performance in particular? Were the actions of Collective Actions, the performances of the 1980s, or the Actionism of the 1980s essentially political in nature? What becomes of art when it is allied to a political force? What does autonomy in art mean today? And finally, what power and influence can art wield over global outcomes in today’s rapidly changing world? As well as more historic examples, we will review a number of actions by Voyna, Pussy Riot, and Petr Pavlensky.

Pavel Mitenko is a member of the groups Radek and NIImitingov. An actionist and researcher, he has taken part in the Occupy movements, as well as the Media-udar festival. 

Images:

1. Voina
Palace Coup
2010
Still from the documentary Zavtra (Tomorrow), dir. Andrey Gryazev, 2012 

2. Petr Pavlensky
Fixation
2013
Photograph by Reuters