Pussy Riot are about to come from Moscow to a number of American cities. Pussy Riot and their digital punk are to appear in New York’s Elsewhere, Hangout Fest and Boston Calling festivals as well as in Washington, Atlanta and Asheville. At the start of the visit, Nadya will have a New York Times Talks with Marina Abramović in New York.
Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova noted that 12 members of the political art community are coming to America this time, some of those 12 will appear on the stage, others prefer to be out of the spotlight. “They prefer to enjoy their anonymity, a thing that has to be valued in the modern world, where everybody, governments and big corporations, are trying to steal and collect every piece of your personal data. Unfortunately for me, my identity was revealed during my court case, but may others still choose to act anonymously.”
During their May visit, they’re going to reveal new audio-visuals and performance art pieces. Members of the art community say that one of them is about dandruff, another one is on big pharma. The list of other artworks that will be shown in America this May indicate that one half of the group’s art is dedicated to cops, and another half is about prisons. “Our duty is try to see what punk will look and sound like in 2028, times of digital resistance, rise against financial inequality and mass people’s movements for saving the planet” says Pussy Riot’s member Cocky.
Pussy Riot’s latest audio-visual piece ‘Elections’ (prod. by Xxchaikaxx) was revealed last March and was created in a collaboration with political prisoner Oleg Navalny who is currently serving his 3.5-year-sentence; ‘Elections’ equates Putin’s new presidential term to 6-years-sentence in a high-security prison. Putin’s 4th presidential term has brought a new wave of attacks on the independent voices in Russia.
Dorian Electra, a politically charged artist whose works are on the topics such as celebration of queerness, female power, sexuality and trans history, is joining Pussy Riot and going to perform with the group during the May run. It’s said that Pussy Riot’s events will also be accompanied by discussions on current political issues with panels on art & activism.
Mon 5.14 – New York, NY @ New York Times Talks w/ Nadya Tolokonnikova + Marina Abramović (tickets)
Thu 5.17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
Fri 5.18 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Festival
Sun 5.20 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Heaven Stage
Tue 5.22 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
Wed 5.23 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Friday 5.25 – Boston, MA @ Boston Calling
June – Berlin, GER @ JVA men’s prison
