The First-ever Almanac of Protest Art by Russian-speaking Artists is published
ARTISTS AGAINST the KREMLIN vol. 1 is the first edition of the almanac featuring protest art by Russian-speaking artists, created by the All Rights Reversed gallery in collaboration with The Moscow Times. Following the success of our Artists Against the Kremlin exhibition in Amsterdam, we decided to publish a book featuring a full catalog of the works, including explanations and curatorial texts.
The Moscow Times is the oldest independent English-language publication, providing uncensored coverage of events in Russia since 1992. In 2022, in response to tightened media laws following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, its editorial office relocated to Amsterdam. On April 15, 2022, the Russian website of The Moscow Times was blocked in Russia, and in 2024, the media outlet was designated as an “undesirable organization.”
The All Rights Reversed gallery develops dissident Russian-speaking artists and uncensored art. Its collection holds over 250 works, and in the past year, the gallery has organized 12 exhibitions across Europe, including the largest to date dissident art exhibition - Artists Against the Kremlin - in Amsterdam.
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Protest Art in Russia: The Struggle and Survival Today
Protest art has always existed in Russia, even under harsh regimes. Over the past 20 years, political street art, manifestos by activist artists, and their participants—who often became political prisoners—regularly made headlines. The art group Voina, Pyotr Pavlensky, the group PG, and many others were persecuted by the state. In 2012, the art group Pussy Riot was sentenced to 5 years in prison for a performance in which the participants prayed to the Virgin Mary for Putin’s resignation. In 2021, performance artist Pavel Krisevich was sentenced to 5 years in a labor camp for an action in Red Square.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the number of imprisoned artists has only grown. Artist Sasha Skochilenko spent 2 years in a labor camp for an action where she replaced store price tags with anti-war stickers, including some where the prices were replaced by the number of casualties from the war in Ukraine. Artist Vasily Slonov was sentenced to one year of forced labor for using prison symbols in his artworks. The secret services began monitoring artists, conducting interrogations, and threatening searches. As a result, many artists fled Russia, while those who stayed are forced to work underground, constantly risking arrest. The works of both groups are present in our collection.
Russian protest art remains invisible to both fellow citizens—due to censorship in Russia—and to international audiences, who often do not realize the existence of a broad anti-war movement in Russia. Moreover, due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, artists with Russian origin often are considered toxic. Even when Russian-speaking artists take a clear anti-war stance and express it in their works, their contribution is devalued due to their origin. Many cultural figures in exile face financial difficulties, while artists still in Russia are forced to create in secret.
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The "All Rights Reversed Gallery" aims to make Russian-speaking protest artists visible
We share their stories, showcase their works, and demonstrate that their creativity deserves recognition. We have built the largest collection of anti-war and dissident art by Russian-speaking artists and organised 12 exhibitions. In August 2024, we held the largest dissident art exhibition, ARTISTS AGAINST the KREMLIN, in Amsterdam and created a homonymous anthology to accompany it.
The book features a catalogue of 150+ works, the story behind the exhibition, curatorial essays, and personal insights from the artists through in-depth interviews. By pre-ordering the book, you not only receive the world's first collection of anti-war art by Russian-speaking artists but also support the project’s growth: expanding the collection, organising exhibitions worldwide, and providing artists with opportunities to earn from their creations.
ARTISTS AGAINST the KREMLIN vol. 1 includes works by Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot), Linor Goralik, Sasha Skochilenko, Pavel Krisevich, Danila Tkachenko, Philippenzo, Victor Melamed, Vladlena Sandu, Mikhail Ray, Liza Pushkina, Andrey Bilzho, Sergey Karev, Slava Ptrk, Kuril Chto, the art group Pomidor, and many others.
The book is published in the EU at one of the leading printing facilities, using the highest standard of printing to ensure the best quality.
Specifications of the book:
- Format: 225 x 225 mm
- Interior paper: Arctic Volume White, 150 g/m²
- Number of pages: 224
- Printing: 4+4
- Binding: Sewn binding (Smyth-sewn)
- Endpapers: Offset paper with 4+4 printing
Cover Specifications:
- Cover: Hardcover with matte coated paper and matte anti-scratch lamination
- Printing: 4+0 (full color)
- Debossing with black matte foil on the front cover
This setup ensures both durability and aesthetic appeal for the book cover.
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