Art and politics: who wins?

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Now came across Guelman letter, read it, liked his attitude and the way he explains the points.

Today an open letter to Sonia Trotsenko, smart, beautiful, owner "Winery»

Dear Sonia, first, may I assure you that treat you very well and that there would be no further happened, the relationship is unlikely to have changed. You have made an important matter, was able to draw first, and then to work with complicated characters, as we are: I, Vladimir Ovcharenko, Aidan Salakhova, Lena Celine and many others. Managed to make the "Winery" the first successful cluster Art in Moscow, has managed the past two years to make their own interesting projects, including important for contemporary art project "Start".

Yesterday you told me that the "Winery" - a place of culture and cultural activities and can not turn it into a political platform. Meaning the debate about Internet censorship, threats of closure Yutube the first of November. I understand your desire. I did, in fact, the first time held in his room a "political action" in March, when gathered round the table, "Why put the artists? '. Then, however, I did not realize that this is a political act. It seemed to me that just our colleagues to express their position, and the arrest of punk feminists, and the action itself.

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I understand your desire, and I am in agreement with him. Want to do art. Wants to please the fans, educate the young hipsters. But ... for the year we are in a new reality. Here I was trying to explain something about this.

But now another aspect of these changes. It is impossible to "not get involved in politics" people of art. Who would have thought a year ago, the writer, the author of sophisticated novels, Boris Akunin will lead the tens of thousands of people to "walk"? That Dima Bykov will be of the floor, like some Bulk. That the leader of hipsters Yuri Saprykin be debating in the Coordinating Council opposition. Makarevich that will write a letter to Putin is not about culture, but about corruption and untold kickbacks? Finally, the three girls are first thrown into prison for six months for a song, and then sentenced to two years in prison?

No one.

I understand the "Winery", having achieved success, are now actively integrated into the city's program. You do not expose their offspring, and perhaps in his own right, perhaps even to you under pressure. But do you really believe that, in this situation, when artists were actively involved in the civil movement, the "Winery" will be able to keep the lead and also to arrest any form of political statement? I do not believe it. And if tomorrow you will be asked to cancel the evening of the same Akunin Bykov? Speech Shevchuk or Arbenina? Exhibition of Yoko Ono, handed Pussy Riot Peace Prize? It's also politics.

Today I received from the functionaries "Winery" letter, which, in general, can be called an attempt to blackmail. They probably own logic, and it seems that people all go for a warm place. At one time I was doing a book launch Limonov. He was the first who did not lock in the works. This is it, as criticism of marsh, gives an interview to state-controlled media, and then it was like the enemy NUMBER ONE van. But to me he was a writer. I tried to persuade him too by the way do not do politics. But when I began to blackmail the rescission of his evening (and believe me, it was not unknown to me your functionary), and very specific, powerful and influential people, I felt that it was not urinate Limonov, and me. And the presentation was conducted.

(The room was at the same state. And it's only a few years was mine until I moved to the "Winery".)

In short, dear Sonia, we are not involved in politics, and she us. I'll be happy when the time comes safely say we're out of politics, we are artists. Will talk about the exhibition to their embassy or the President, as before. So, in my opinion, the debate on the topic of censorship on the Internet - is a step towards this ambitious time, and not vice versa.

Yours ever,

Marat.

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