nadya tolokonnikova: putin’s ashes
friday, 08 december 2023
6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
free admission, complimentary drinks (21+)
1 61 glass st.
we are proud to announce the inaugural u.s museum presentation of “putin’s ashes”, a short art film by pussy riot creator nadya tolokonnikova. join us for the opening from 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm on friday, 08 december.
the film is the culmination of a performance that took place in august 2022 when pussy riot burned a giant portrait of russian president vladimir putin. during the performance, twelve women, mostly ukrainian, belarusian, or russian, cast spells aimed at chasing putin away from leadership. participating women were required to experience ‘acute hatred and resentment toward the russian president.’ once the portrait was reduced to ashes, these were collected and placed into vials that were later incorporated in ritualistic artworks by tolokonnikova.
“putin’s ashes reveals the vulnerability of seemingly unbreakable power structures. this piece is rooted in magical activist thinking. if nothing else, we want to believe that there’s a button that can eliminate sexism and bring about justice,” says tolokonnikova.
the performance landed tolokonnikova on putin’s most wanted list and instigated an arrest warrant under the russian ‘pussy riot law,’ a bill imposing jail terms and fines for insulting people’s religious feelings, which some have seen as a response to the punk prayer, a 2012 performance by pussy riot at moscow’s cathedral of christ the savior that placed the group and the russian human rights violations it spotlighted on the center stage.
putin’s ashes is written, directed, edited and scored by nadya tolokonnikova, with camera work by riley bray, stuart ortiz. executive producer: john caldwell.