In black and white. “Five Nightings” by Aleksandr Volodin, directed by Eduard Tolokonnikov, produced by Polina Belkina in New York City (20-30 March, 28 May-15 June 2025)

Soviet non-conformist art emerged in the 1950s when artists dared to transcend the official canon of socialist realism that prescribed rigid themes, genres and design. The red and yellow art of Soviet propaganda was dominated by slogans and images of Marx and Marxists. The Canon ideal results in a yellow profile of Vladimir Lenin on a red background, with yellow letters shouting: “Long live proletarian revolution!” However, that same background …

Black and White. Aleksandr Volodin’s “Five Evenings,” directed by Eduard Tolokonnikov, produced by Polina Belkina, in New York City (March 20-30, May 28-June 15, 2025)

Soviet nonconformist art was emerged in the 1950s when artists dared to transcend the official canon of Socialist realism which prescribed rigid themes, genres, and design. The reds and yellows of Soviet propaganda art was dominated by officially approved slogans and images of Marx and Marxists. The canon ideal results in a yellow profile of Vladimir Lenin atop red background, with yellow letters shouting, “Long Live the Proletarian Revolution!”…