‘Artists Against the Kremlin’ – a testament to resistance at De Balie

This Friday, we had a chance to visit the opening night of ‘Artists Against the Kremlin’ – a large-scale exhibition brought by All Rights Reversed gallery, The Moscow Times and De Balie, that brings the voices of Russian-speaking contemporary artists to a global stage in Amsterdam. It’s been over two and a half year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and despite heavy censorship and prosecution of any opposition to the Russian government, the art community have been bravely showcasing their collective resistance. Uniting artists from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, the exhibition is an avenue to nurture dialogue and advocate for positive change, emphasising that the Kremlin – the authoritarian governmental body – does not represent the views of Russian people.

The exhibition commenced with a fashion show by Darina Odetta, whose collection grapples with themes of ‘grief, loss, and renewal’. Embedded in the context of her Russian heritage, Odetta’s body of work utilises lace – both a prominent feature in her personal home and a broader traditional Russian motif – to represent the transformation of her cultural identity. ‘I used lace in various forms – cherished through embroidery, destroyed to signify loss, and printed to symbolise hope and resilience,’ Odetta explains the various layers that represent her experience. This approach, the artist reflects, ‘allows to navigate the ambivalence of losing [her] motherland while maintaining a connection to [her] roots.’

The show itself ran deeper than a runway walk – each model was also a performer, embodying ‘a narrative connected to a Russian archetype’. Furthering and questioning the complexities of a Russian identity torn by the turmoil of political oppression, the performance was a perfect starting point for a month of difficult yet connecting conversations that will be brought forward by the exhibition in the following month. As Odetta is joined by fellow artists (some names include Nadya of Pussy Riot and Kuril Chto) who form their own connection to familial roots while rejecting the regime, the sense of brotherhood and activism begins to dissolve geo-political borders, giving hope of a just future.