Visitor Marat Gelman Ranks Immigration's Floral Offerings, with Acacia Groups Being Highlighted by Zakhar Prilepin*
Exiled Russian Artists and Cultural Figures Continue to Challenge Putin's Regime
A number of Russian cultural figures have left their homeland and are openly opposing Putin's regime from abroad. Among them are prominent artists, musicians, and theatre directors, who have found themselves in exile due to their critical stance.
One such figure is Marat Gelman, a renowned artist and cultural entrepreneur. Gelman has taken refuge in exile and uses his art to speak out against the Kremlin. He believes that for an artist, opposing Putin's Russia is an intrinsic part of their identity, and after exile, he focuses on creating new artwork that opposes the regime rather than relying on past achievements[1].
Another artist who was forced into exile is Daria Apakhonchich. Labeled a "foreign agent" by the Russian government, she creatively protests the regime by transforming obligatory bureaucratic reports into art filled with anti-war drawings and reflections, highlighting the absurdity and brutality of the regime’s censorship[2].
In the music scene, independent musicians who express anti-war messages have faced official repression, pushing many of them into exile or marginalization within Russia. Bands like Nogu Svelo!, known for punk, ska, and art-rock, have taken a vocal stance against Putin's regime. With a track record of 16 albums, 71 music videos, and direct opposition to the government, they represent the music scene resistance while living and performing abroad[4].
While individual names of poets and theater directors currently in exile and active against Putin’s regime are not specifically named, the overall context suggests that many Russian artists have faced repression, censorship, or exile. Classical and less mainstream musicians have been less affected, but public anti-war performers face blacklisting[3].
Some notable figures who have left Russia and are making a significant impact on Russian culture include Ivan Vyrypaev, who lives in Poland and performs all over the world, Vladimir Sorokin in Berlin, published by the European Russian-language publishing house FreedomLetter, and Dmitry Bykov in the USA, teaching Russian literature to American Slavists[5].
Others such as Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Mikhail Shishkin, Vera Pavlova, and Viktor Yerofeyev have found themselves in exile but continue to contribute to Russian literature and arts[5]. Kirill Serebrennikov performs in Germany and France, while Boris Akunin (Chkhartishvili) has set up his own publishing house, BABOOK, in London[5].
In the realm of theater, Russian theater directors are reportedly improving due to their departure[6]. Notable theater directors such as Anna Revyakina, Anna Dolgareva, Sergey Gandlevsky, Andrey Orlov (Orlusha), Max Pokrovsky, and Boris Barabanov have found themselves in exile but continue to make significant contributions to the theater scene[6].
Artemy Troitsky is a music critic in Estonia, while Alexander Kabanov is a favorite poet of the author and lives in Kiev[5]. Mikhail Trofimenkov, recognized as a foreign agent by the Kremlin, continues his work as a film critic from abroad[5].
In summary, a broad ecosystem of exiled Russian cultural figures—including writers, poets, theater directors, and musicians—is actively resisting Putin's regime from abroad, facing repression and censorship within Russia for their critical stance. This includes figures like Gelman and Apakhonchich in visual arts, and bands like Nogu Svelo! in music[1][2][4].
References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/apr/26/russian-artists-exile-putin-regime-censorship
[2] https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/russian-artist-daria-apakhonchich-transforms-bureaucratic-reports-into-art-filled-with-anti-war-drawings
[3] https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/russian-artists-exile-putin-regime-censorship
[4] https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/russian-band-nogu-svelo-speak-out-against-putin-regime-with-new-album
[5] https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/russian-artists-in-exile-continue-to-push-boundaries
[6] https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/russian-theatre-directors-are-improving-due-to-their-departure
- Marat Gelman, an acclaimed artist and cultural entrepreneur in exile, uses his art to criticize Putin's regime, viewing opposition as an essential part of an artist's identity.
- Daria Apakhonchich, labeled a "foreign agent" by the Russian government, protests the regime creatively by transforming bureaucratic reports into art with anti-war themes.
- Independent Russian musicians expressing anti-war messages have faced official repression, leading many to exile or marginalization within Russia, such as Nogu Svelo!, known for their 16 albums, 71 music videos, and opposition to the government.
- Some well-known figures who have left Russia and are impacting Russian culture include Ivan Vyrypaev, Vladimir Sorokin, Dmitry Bykov, Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Mikhail Shishkin, Vera Pavlova, Viktor Yerofeyev, Kirill Serebrennikov, Boris Akunin, Anna Revyakina, Anna Dolgareva, Sergey Gandlevsky, Andrey Orlov, Max Pokrovsky, Boris Barabanov, Artemy Troitsky, and Alexander Kabanov.
- Notable theater directors like Anna Revyakina, Anna Dolgareva, Sergey Gandlevsky, Andrey Orlov, Max Pokrovsky, Boris Barabanov, have found themselves in exile but continue to contribute significantly to the theater scene.
- Exiled Russian theater directors are reportedly enhancing Russian theater.
- Despite the repression and censorship faced within Russia, Russian cultural figures in exile continue to challenge Putin's regime through various avenues such as art, music, literature, theater, and social media, with some even influencing pop culture and gambling trends in their new locations, including casino personalities and sports betting.
