19 March 2024, Tuesday, 12:11
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Ales Marachkin: Barbed Wire Remains Best Symbol Of “Friendship” Between Regimes Of Belarus And Russia

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Ales Marachkin: Barbed Wire Remains Best Symbol Of “Friendship” Between Regimes Of Belarus And Russia
ALES MARACHKIN
PHOTO: RADIO LIBERTY

Adding a detail to the scandalous mural about the “friendship” of Minsk and Moscow appears a brave and timely art-performance.

Famous Belarusian artist Ales Marachkin has told this in an interview to charter97.org.

- How would you comment on the recent action of an unknown Belarusian artist, who painted barbed wire over the mural about the “friendship” between Minsk and Moscow?

- I think this is a very illustrative art action. The unknown artist really hit the nail on the head as for capturing the very essence of the so-called “friendship” between Russia and Belarus. Or, should I say – between the ruling regimes of Belarus and Russia.

The barbed wire makes a very timely addendum to the scandalous graffiti in Minsk. Especially, in the light of Russia pursuing the war in Ukraine and Syria and drowning the Belarusian economy and statehood in the moss of the “ally relations”.

This is a very deep symbolism; it reflects the very essence of the “friendship” which Russia keeps forcing upon us. Just recall the already known facts and documents on Kurapaty stove to erase any doubts that the action was necessary and perfectly well-timed.

- Minsk municipal authorities demanded the artist should paint over his work within a week, threatening to sue him otherwise. How to you assess such statement of the authorities?

- I hope they haven’t found that brave artist yet. Of course, the authorities will try not to let this case go without consequences.

When artist Ales Pushkin painted a well-recognized face with moustache in the image of a sinner burning in hell, on the wall of the church in Bobr settlement, the painting was painted over. A similar story happened to me, when I painted Muraviov the Hangsman with moustache, which looked like Lukashenka’s, back in the 1970s. Nobody knew Lukashenka then, but the painting with Muraviov was withdrawn from the exhibition in our times. So, I hope they won’t send this bold Minsk artist to jail, although it is likely they will paint the mural over.

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