Kremlin in fire

The author of the "Favorite Picture of Zelensky" was discovered in Tbilisi. Who is he?

The art object Sandro Antadze, depicting the blazing Moscow Kremlin, became a sensation after the photograph of the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, posing in his office against the backdrop of the flame of the Kremlin and Mausoleum towers, published Time New York magazine on March 24. Read more about who Antadze is in the material of Novaya Gazeta Europe.

Kremlin in Zelensky's office

The American journalist Simon Schuster spoke in an article about the working and personal space of Vladimir Zelensky, which contrasts in style with gilded pilasters of his official office. The Time article describes a small room in the depths of the office, with a single bed and "a set of paintings that the president himself chose." The journalist explained that “these are not museum exhibits” and that similar paintings can cost a maximum of several hundred dollars, “but they are important for the president because they are personifying.”

The picture hanging above the bed depicts a Russian warship drowning in the Black Sea. On the second - Ukrainian troops, recently fighting in Russia. The Kremlin burns on the third, as emphasized, "Favorite Picture of Zelensky." The President of Ukraine himself believes that "each of the paintings is about victory."

The photo in a few days made a lot of noise. And although the Kremlin is still on the spot, and Ukraine has been bombing every day for three years, they were especially indignant in Moscow with a picture in Zelensky’s office.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said briefly - "Psychbollah." State Duma deputy Mikhail Sheremet also suggested that “Zelensky seems to have lost his mind”, and the deputy chairman of the International Committee of the Federation Council Vladimir Dzhabarov agreed that this was “complete stupidity”, and assured that “it would not even occur to anyone to order a picture with a burning baptist, Bankov Street.” Here at least some explanation begs, because the war in February 2022 began with real Russian missile strikes in Kyiv, but it did not follow.

A peaceful man Sandro

The artist Sandro Antadze is 53 years old, there is nothing extreme in his appearance and manner. On the record of the Formula television company, he walks through the workshop in a pink T -shirt and a jacket with patch pockets, radiating good -naturedness and recalling more likely a plush bear, and not the Kremlin’s wealth.

Often artists are difficult to explain in words what they wanted to say with their picture. Sandro is also difficult, who in an interview tries to describe that the work on the Kremlin “and he made a strong impression on him, but that it was“ so conceived ”, and that he immediately called her“ dream ”. And most importantly, the fire in the picture is symbolic.

“This is a wish for Russian politics and government. But this has nothing to do with people. The picture shows that on the left, behind the Kremlin, they are at home, light is on in their windows, that is, it does not apply to people, I do not want Moscow to explode and die ... this is a symbolic fire, like a criticism of politics ... Here is Lenin in a mausoleum-I don’t know why in the 21st century he was held as a mummy of Pharaoh in a pyramid, as some kind of deity, and at the same time they call themselves Orthodox. And in Georgia we call Russian co -religionists, although there is such a mausoleum, well, in China there is still where the cult of Mao Zedong. ”

It turns out that Sandro Antadze “draw” a whole series of paintings with a burning Kremlin, “and these are not copies, but different paintings, although painted from one angle.”

“I am a very peaceful person and absolutely do not want war. But when I see injustice, when entire countries, millions of people suffer because of an insatiable empire, in my opinion, this is the right reaction, ”the artist argues. - Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a big blow for everyone and for me personally. Russia will still not part with the role of the occupier and aggressor. Despite the fact that Russia is a huge country, they still seek to capture something. In Georgia, we have been victims of this policy for many years. <...> The pain and bitterness accumulated over many years are reflected in my picture. ”

From the author of the smiling cow

By education, Sandro Antadze is an architect artist, but in his youth he was also fond of skiing. In the 90s, when there was another war and an economic crisis in Georgia, he won a ticket to London as a prize. In the UK, he took 20 small paintings “in case you need to exchange for food”.

In London, Sandro Antadze managed to put up work in one of the most prestigious galleries, and they were all sold.

Returning from London, Sandro discovered Cafe Gallery in Tbilisi - one of the most bohemian clubs in the city. In the historical two-story building on Rustaveli Avenue, the underground flourishes: they hold art exhibitions, listen to the best DJs, and arrange a Quirry Vozda.

At the same time, Sandro Antadze never threw up the painting - his personal exhibitions were held in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, South Korea. Before the 2008 war, it was exhibited in Russia.

The three main series of Antadze: “Smiling Animals”, “Airplanes and Cosmos” and “Everything changes” - the old watches and chairs, large TVs, discs and other “aged” objects. The burning Kremlin on this vernisage of humor and nostalgia really looks unexpected.

Send the Kremlin by mail to Kyiv

Antadze considers himself “not a very famous artist” (although friends do not agree with him), and explains the “ambitious idea” to the “ambitious idea” to President Zelensky to the President of Zelensky.

“It is very different from my usual style. This picture had some mystical purpose, she had to “do something”. And I thought: where should she hang, who should look at her? I had such an ambitious idea to send this picture to Kyiv, the government of Ukraine, Zelensky. I decided that it would be the best place.

I wrote a post-asked if someone had a connection with Zelensky, indicated that I wanted to send him a picture. The war has just begun. I had no hope that the mail would work, but I sent a picture by mail, it was delivered for a very long time, I was ready for the fact that it would be lost, it would never be delivered. But it was important for me what I tried. As a result, I was informed that the picture was handed over to someone in the administration of the President of Ukraine. I did not even have confirmation that Zelensky saw this work. I decided without any offense that the administration was put somewhere in a corner. ”

Two years passed, and when 2024 came, a friend sent Sandro a video in which Vladimir Zelensky reads the New Year's appeal, and at the end of this record show his picture with a burning Kremlin. Zelensky at that time says: "Who brought hell to our land will once see this hell out of his window."

“I was in shock how exactly Zelensky handed over the message of what I drew. It was incredible! The absurd idea has turned into something very important. I am still worried when I think how this could happen, ” says Sandro about her impressions.

Now, from the publication in Time, the Georgian artist learned that his painting is in the “constant” exposition of Zelensky’s office.

Recently, stories and the Georgian political chronicle appeared in Antadze's paintings , inspired by endless protests on Rustaveli Avenue. Here is the gloomy building of the parliament, and instead of the moon it is illuminated by a football ball-in honor of the appointment of a football player. There is a black and white femid, in the hands of which broken scales and a police club. And a bright, but ominous picture-police in costumes of Santa Claus, guarding a Christmas tree from demonstrators.

The artist says that he has “European thinking”, and Georgia is a European country, but what is happening in the country “like Russian handwriting”.

“Probably, my dream will come true when the [such] Russian politics will be over, it will burn. I think that only Russian citizens themselves can do this. I am inclined to the fact that this picture is also for them. Perhaps this was a shame for someone, but there really is a lot of misfortune around them because of the policy of their government, I do not think that people like it. These terrible repressions will someday end, and Russia will become a good country. Of course, I doubt it, but I leave hope. And the dream that we will also leave the swamp into which Russia is trying to drag us. ”