Pokemon or apostles?

The young artist and student of the Faculty of Painting of the University of University of Arts, Stepan Myannik, wrote a picture of supporting video blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky, accused of insulting the feelings of believers due to catching Pokemon in the temple. The meannik portrayed the gospel plot "Secret Office". In the center of the table, on the site of Jesus Christ, the Pikachu sits, and next instead of the twelve apostles - Pokemon. The artist stated that he plans to sell the picture “The Secret Office of Pokemon” for half a million rubles. Miannik wants to give money from the sale of work to Sokolovsky, who is now under house arrest.

The artist said in an interview with Radio Liberty that recently in Moscow an exhibition of his works was canceled. The meannik is sure: this happened due to his statement in the defense of Sokolovsky.

- Stepan, why did you decide to support Sokolovsky?

-I learned from the Internet that some bloggers are going to judge because of Pokemon! I could not believe that a person because of the game Pokemon Go was pulled out of the house and sent to the investigative insulator. I watched the videos of Ruslan Sokolovsky and realized: something absurd is happening. In response to this unjust and treacherous act, I had the idea to write a painting “The Last Supper Pokemon” to show the absurdity of what is happening. I wanted to protect not only Sokolovsky, but also common sense. It’s just to deprive a person of freedom - this is madness.

“Not“ just like that, ”but because of the insult of the feelings of believers. Ruslan Sokolovsky was accused under this article, and he faces up to five years in prison.

The church must act consistently and be responsible for its words

- I think many people were offended by the arrest of Sokolovsky. I was baptized in the Orthodox Church, but my cave methods with which the Russian Orthodox Church protects the feelings of believers are upset by the most sharp anti -clerical statements. I did not like that after the arrest of Sokolovsky, Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg Cyril said that he was ready to petition for the release of a blogger. However, later the Yekaterinburg diocese said that the court would not ask for a pardon. In my opinion, the church should act consistently and be responsible for its words. If the church defended Sokolovsky, then it would show everyone the principle of forgiveness that Christ was guided by.

- Did you manage to sell the painting “The Secret Office of Pokemon”?

- Not yet, I am now receiving offers from buyers. I am not satisfied with the price for which they want to buy a picture. I will sell it at the auction, and I will give the money, as promised, to Ruslan. In addition, I had to be distracted by my problems. In mid-September, the Buddha-Bar restaurant was supposed to open an exhibition of my paintings. Almost on the eve of the opening, the Buddha-Bar administration told the agent who is conducting my affairs in Moscow that the exhibition was canceled. First, the manager with whom we negotiated explained this solution to technical problems. But there could be no technical problems. The exhibition was ready: we made booklets, posted announcements in the media, invited guests. Then the manager admitted: the exhibition was canceled because of my words in support of Sokolovsky.

-Moscow Buddha-Bar is part of a large international network of restaurants around the world. The Buddha-Bar brand is owned by the French company George V EaterTainment. In Moscow, this restaurant was opened by franchise. Did the owners of Moscow Buddha-Bar somehow explained their solution to you?

- They did not specify, but I did not demand detailed explanations.

-The administration of the Moscow restaurant Buddha-Bar did not provide a commentary on this subject Radio Liberty.

- My motives are understandable to me. Before I supported Sokolovsky, Buddha-Bar planned long cooperation with me. They wanted to hold an exhibition of modern oriental art in the restaurant. My exhibition was supposed to be just the beginning of our joint work. I even developed a concept, but they canceled all the agreements.

Canceled all agreements and refused to cooperate

-Residents of Buryatia, for example, believe that the use of Buddha statues in the interior of Buddha-Bar restaurants offends the feelings of believing Buddhists. Interestingly, the owners of Buddha-Bar think about this.

- I did not ask. It is clear to me that people who have a business in Russia try to stay away from politics and beware of expressing their opinion once again. Now I am looking for a new place in Moscow for my exhibition.

- What is the name of your exhibition?

- “Dose”. I drew various types of alcohol under a microscope. I really like all this world hidden under a microscope. I am interested in using a magnifying device and imagination, to show the inner essence of chemicals. A year ago, my first personal exhibition “split? Schism!” Was held in Moscow. It consisted of two parts. The first is different types of drugs, as if enlarged under a microscope. I did this work at the request of the London charitable organization for an event dedicated to assistance to people with drug addiction. I listened to the stories of drug addicts about the sensations that they experience under the influence of chemicals. Then he tried to convey the effect of different types of drugs using color and shape. I wanted to show how to get aesthetic pleasure from drugs, instead of taking them inside. The second part of the exhibition is the image of minerals increased under a microscope. I united in my work a split that creates nature, and a split in the minds of drug addicts.

I wanted to show how to get aesthetic pleasure from drugs, instead of taking them inward

In winter, my other exhibition should be held in one of the Moscow galleries. It is called “thank you”. Famous biblical plots are depicted on the canvases, but instead of people I drew Sand bags. For example, Cain lies on Abel, both of them are sucked by a vacuum cleaner. In another picture - three bags are suspended on a construction crane and symbolize the crucifix. The sand is gradually pouring up, time is constantly leaving. What then remains? The action in my work takes place against the background of industrial landscapes. So I tried to answer the question that there is God in our time of high technology.

- Are you not afraid that these works will offend the feelings of believers and will start a criminal case against you?

- No need to be offended, it is better to turn on the mind. It’s not too late, it is necessary to show the line where the laws of the church end. And the laws of the secular state begin. I still remember the time when church hierarchs did not speak out for any political occasion. And the church seemed to me a place of rest from the worldly fuss. Now the Russian Orthodox Church has turned into a constant stimulus, if not a source of danger.

In addition, artists have always turned to a religious topic. I really like the Renaissance era. I read the "Old Testament" and "New Testament", thought a lot about religion in order to understand the art of revival.

- What did they come to?

It's not too late, you need to show the line where the laws of the church end

- Religion, in my understanding, is closely connected with hope. But when a person is disappointed in religion, he finds comfort in aesthetic pleasure that art gives.

- Maybe open the “Thank you” exhibition from sin away in London, where you are learning and working now?

- Of course, it is easier to work in London, because the market of contemporary art has already been formed there. But I want to create an interest in modern art in Russia. In our country, a mass viewer has not seen anything except socialist realism for a long time. When in the 90s the Russians showed everything at once, they were shocked. For the perception of contemporary art, the audience must be prepared gradually, otherwise it will cause rejection. I consider it important to educate the inhabitants of Russia, despite the fact that the modern political context does not contribute to the formation of consciousness that can understand contemporary art.

- How do you plan to do this?

- If people do not go to art, then it should come to them. For example, my friends and I are going to pick up your favorite paintings and go down with them in the Moscow metro. We will travel along the ring line and show our work to passengers. We recently held a similar performance in the London metro. The Londoners approached us, asked questions. Some spectators were so fond of missing their stop. It seems to me that in Moscow this action will be even more interesting: there are more people in the subway than in London. In addition, sometimes young artists in Moscow have nowhere to show their work. There are very few exhibition spaces in Russia.

- But there are a lot of temples. Do you know about the program for building temples of walking distance? For this, more than 200 land plots were first allocated in Moscow. Now we are talking about the construction of 350 temples. And Patriarch Kirill believes that in Moscow it is necessary to build about 600 temples.

- The Moscow authorities are sure that people need so many churches? It seems to me that it is better to make a mobile temple in the form of a bus with icons instead of windows, which will come to different areas of Moscow. Or you can hold exhibitions of contemporary artists in these Orthodox churches in these Orthodox churches. In London, in the buildings of various churches, exhibitions, musical evenings, and scientific seminars are regularly held. The local clergy believes that the temples should not be empty, which means that they need to conduct interesting projects for people. Maybe my proposal is not consistent with the canons of the Orthodox Church. But if the Russian Orthodox Church invaded all spheres of people's lives (already conseches missiles on Baikonur), it will be fair if it changes its canons and will become more open.

It is better to make a mobile temple in the form of a bus with icons instead of windows that will come to different areas of Moscow

“You have been living in London for a long time.” Do you plan to return to Russia after graduation?

- Now I am preparing to defend the dissertation, then I will study in the magistracy. I'm not going to move to London forever. Russia is my country, my roots, my story. I gave the descendant of the Russian kings to Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov my picture "A Hungry for the Revolution." No, I'm not a monarchist at all. In this way, I just wanted to express my sympathy for the descendants of people who survived terrible events. The royal family was shot at the site of the temple-on-blood in Yekaterinburg, where the blogger Sokolovsky caught Pokemon. And he, too, became a victim of political madness.