Inauguration

May 7, 2000 occurred the inauguration of the new Russian president Vladimir Putin. Russia was entering the era of Putinism—the current period of its history. On the same day in St. Petersburg, the cultural center Pushkinskaya 10 was opening the festival “Unofficial Capital.” The art community in St. Petersburg (as much as, actually, elsewhere) is very apolitical and politically unaware. The day, which many left-wing intellectuals regarded as a triumphant return to the “Sovietism,” was not taken seriously at all by the majority of the art audience. At the festival opening, routine receptions, parties, art exhibitions, etc. were planned.

I decided to spoil the festivity for the artists.

The cultural center “Pushkinskaya 10” is located in multiple courtyards in an old central district of the city. In order to move from one building to another, one must pass through a tunnel that connects the different courtyards. In one these courtyards, I drew a white canvas on which I was planning to project the live broadcast of Putin’s inauguration. As if the inauguration was to stand in the way of strolling tipsy artists. They were, according to my plans, either to remain in the tunnel and watch the inauguration to the end, or break through the barrage in fury.

The barrage has been erected, but for technical reasons I could not implement the projection of television broadcast. The project failed.

(Documentation of performance is not preserved.)