"Artists Against The Kremlin"

“ARTISTS AGAINST the KREMLIN” is the first-ever almanac of protest and anti-war art created by artists from Russia and Ukraine. The book serves as a catalogue of the largest protest art exhibition by Russian-speaking artists — Artists Against the Kremlin — which took place from 3 August to 3 September 2024 at the DeBalie cultural centre in Amsterdam. This landmark event gained attention from major European media outlets and attracted over 10,000 visitors.
The book includes a catalogue of over 150 works, the story behind the creation of the exhibition, curatorial essays, and deep-dive interviews that immerse readers in the personal stories of the artists. The catalogue features images of the exhibited works, interviews with the artists, and stories about the challenges and creative solutions faced by the organisers in bringing this ambitious project to life.

The book features works by artists such as Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot), Sasha Skochilenko, Pavel Krisevich, Linor Goralik, Slava Ptrk, The Party of the Dead, Pomidor, Philippenzo, Artem Loskutov, Victor Melamed, Mikhail Rai, Liza Pushkina, Vladlena Sandu, Sergei Karev, and many others.

At the presentation, the authors will share insights into the creation of the book, the curation of the artworks, and the story behind the “ARTISTS AGAINST the KREMLIN” exhibition. They will discuss the challenges and significance of assembling the largest collection of anti-war and dissident art by Russian-speaking artists.

Attendees will have the chance to purchase the book at a special discounted price during the event. If you’d like to explore the book before the presentation, a digital version is available for purchase in advance.

Guests

Vladimir Shalamov, author of the Artists Against the Kremlin book and exhibition curator

Yana Tark, artist whose artworks are pictured in the book

More info

The book is published in an edition of 1,000 copies, contains 224 pages, and is presented in a hardcover format. Printed in the EU.

Creators

The Berlin-based gallery All Rights Reversed supports protest art and fosters the development of art free from censorship. Its collection includes over 250 artworks, and over the past year, the gallery has organised 12 exhibitions across Europe, including the largest one—Artists Against the Kremlin in Amsterdam.

The Moscow Times is the oldest independent English-language media outlet covering events in Russia since 1992, remaining free from censorship. In 2022, following the tightening of media legislation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the editorial team was forced to relocate to Amsterdam. On 15 April 2022, access to the Russian website of The Moscow Times was blocked in Russia. In 2024, the organisation was officially labelled as “undesirable” by Russian authorities.

Context

In 2024, independent artists in Russia standing up against the invasion of Ukraine face ongoing pressure from the authorities: they are summoned for interrogations, threatened with searches, and many have been forced to emigrate. Those who remain in Russia work in secrecy, constantly risking arrest. In exile, many cultural figures struggle with financial difficulties, while artists still in Russia are often confined to creating work in isolation, unable to share it publicly.

Takeaway

By pre-ordering the book ARTISTS AGAINST the KREMLIN vol.1, you not only receive the most comprehensive collection of anti-war art by Russian-speaking artists but also contribute to the growth of protest art. Your participation in the campaign helps bring such projects into the spotlight, expand the fund of protest works, organise exhibitions across different countries, and, most importantly, provide artists with the opportunity to earn a living through their creativity.

You can buy the book online:

1. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/book-artists-against-the-kremlin-vol-1/x/38208037#/

2. https://prometheus.shop/products/book-artists-against-the-kremlin-vol-1

3. https://prometheus.shop/products/artists-against-the-kremlin-vol-1-e-book