A publication containing signs of insult, an expression of obvious disrespect in relation to the icon image The Virgin Mary, depicted in an obscene form, so that the image is perceived as outwardly similar to the anatomical details of the female external genitalia, that is, it visually repeats them, thereby expressing disrespect, disregard for the image revered in Christianity.
Nadya Tolokonnikova was added to Russia’s federal wanted list. She is being charged under a law, which was created in the aftermath of Pussy Riot’s 2012 art piece – Punk Prayer. The law deals specifically with “hurting the religious feelings” of people in Russia. In 2012, Tolokonnikova was charged with “hooliganism”, however the courts wished to broaden their ability to prosecute cases like this, so they created the “religious feelings” law, or the “Pussy Riot Law” as it came to be known.
This NFT created in 2021, has a similar refrain, asking “Virgin Mary, Please Become a Feminist” – and includes image of Mary in vaginal form painted on top of Nadya’s 2012 arrest papers.
In 2022, generative artist Shvembldr reported on an endless court battle with Latvian courts based on the sales and finances around his NFT sales. (Artnet) This case with Pussy Riot appears to be the first criminal case based on the content of the NFT artwork, not related to finance or securities law.
According to Tolokonnikova, the case was largely left alone at first, “the courts will sit on these records until they want to do something about it, or something bigger comes up. I announced Putin’s Ashes at Jeffrey Deitch’s Gallery, and received attention from The New Yorker, LA Times and other large western media. *Coincidentally* my instagram vanished and this new criminal case was announced within a week of the show. Police detained friends and family, and my lawyers sent me the documents they found.”
“Any truly political artist risks their personal safety for the sake of their art… It is not a new concept for me. But maybe the first time art from an NFT is being used as evidence to try to throw someone in jail. The Ukraine flag NFT for Ukraine DAO was sold for close to 7m dollars and the crypto community rallied around it – I’m especially proud of that – we sent funds on the ground to Ukraine, we saved lives in the first few days of the war. I’m sure putin didn’t like that either. Or my latest show with Jeffrey Deitch (Link), where we captured the performance of burning putin’s effigy and collecting and selling his ashes, he probably didnt like that either, I guess we got enough attention to scare him as we rallied allies in the west who were willing to stand up to putin and also to aid Ukraine.
We raised even more funds for a frontline unit in Bakhmut with an open edition NFT drop with Shepard Fairey. (Link / Link to NFT)
They threaten us but we cannot show fear. I will use the tools I have as an artist and crypto enthusiast to keep fighting. I’m not a soldier, I’m an artist, art is my weapon. Glad to see they are scared.”
ABOUT NADYA TOLOKONNIKOVA AND PUSSY RIOT:
Conceptual performance artist and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova is the creator of Pussy Riot, a global feminist protest art movement. Today, hundreds of people identify as a part of the Pussy Riot community. She was sentenced in 2012 to 2 years’ imprisonment following an anti-Putin performance. Went through a hunger strike protesting savage prison conditions and ended up being sent far away to a Siberian penal colony, where she managed to maintain her artistic activity and with her prison punk band she made a tour around Siberian labor camps. Published a book “Read and riot: Pussy Riot’s guide to activism”.
Co-founder of independent news service and media outlet, Mediazona, she has spoken before the US Congress, British Parliament, European Parliament, appeared as herself on season 3 of House of Cards.
Pussy Riot’s “Punk-prayer” was named by The Guardian among the best art pieces of the 21st century (“feminist, explicitly anti-Putin, protesting the banning of gay pride and the Orthodox church’s support of the president”), collaborated with Bansky on his “Dismaland” exhibition, endorsed by Marina Abramovic and Ai Weiwei, gallery shows at London’s Saatchi gallery & Jeffrey Deitch’s LA gallery.
Pussy Riot stands for gender fluidity, inclusivity, matriarchy, love, laughter, decentralization, anarchy, and anti-authoritarianism.
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