Heard about art-группу "War"
ARTinvestment.RU   21 сентября 2016

Dmitry Volchek, columnist of "Radio Liberty", was found with emigrant Oleg Vorotnikov (a Thief) — leader of the famous five years ago, art-группы "War"

the Last Russian event of the art-группы "War" Oleg Vorotnikov, Natalia Sokol, Leonid Nikolaev and anonymous activists took place 31 December 2011. No one then could not think that "Mento-Ауто-Да-Фэ" will be their last saying for years and the last action executed in classical composition.

At the time of the radical stock art-группы with amazement watched the progressive youth of the two capitals, at least. That they arranged the Wake of Dmitry Prigov to a feast in the subway, making the "iron curtain" entrance to restaurant "Oprichnik", "stormed" laser graphics the White House has organized the run with blue buckets on your head on the roof of the car FSO, and finally drew 70-метровый member razvodnom on the Foundry bridge in St. Petersburg. For this and other promotions they had received several months of imprisonment and the state prize "Innovation". Videos of artistic and political actions with the participation of the Thief, Goats, Laziness Crazy and several anonymous activists five-шесть years ago "blew up" the Internet. They were, perhaps, the most desirable information "zapresheno", a symbol of protest against reckless consumerism and lack of freedom in those days, when the two capitals, it seemed, could not breathe the air of change.

Then-то went wrong. And to be honest, it all went wrong.

Around 2010 the main "ringleaders" art of the troubles hard pressed the authorities for a criminal line. A few months Collars-Вор and Nikolev-Чокнутый spent in prison. Released in 2011 under a small cash Deposit, the leaders of the activists then disappeared and was declared wanted. In 2010, out of the country where-то in the Baltic States left Alexei Plutser-Сарно, the mouthpiece of the "War" on the Internet, the author and chronicler of all shares. After a while it became known that the Collars with his wife and two children also illegally moved to the West, to Europe. The same rumors circulated about the crazy activist groups Lena-Чокнутом. But they were lies. It turned out that under the most unfortunate circumstances. Leon, not once Dergachi the fate of the mustache, died in a household accident. September 22, 2015 Leonid Nikolayev fell down and later died in hospital from his injuries. It turned out that for several years he lived illegally in the area of Domodedovo and preparing new radical action — perhaps the most daring in the entire history of the "War".

About Vorotnikov and Sokol with the children after their emigration, little was heard in the context of actionist art. In Europe the family moved from place to place. Periodically've odd reports of their skirmishes and fights with the local anarchists and informal groups. Then came rumors that Vorotnikov and Sokol children moved to Switzerland at the invitation of Adrian Notta familiar to our readers, Director of the cradle of Dadaism "Cabaret Voltaire" (also, incidentally, one of my favorite places Lenin). But otherwise just a rumor,details little.

And recently on the website of "Radio Liberty" published an article by Dmitry Volchek "Five years without War". The author managed to meet (where it is not directly stated, but probably in Switzerland) Vorotnikova with Oleg and his wife Natalia Sokol. Interview with the Thief refused to give, but the conversation took place. And its retelling, sometimes with quotes, recorded Volchek. The text is permeated with sympathy for the art-бунтарям the past, but in General information is not fun.

the Text of the two for obvious reasons replete with innuendo, so will briefly retell the story as he knew. In Europe guys too cornered. Again pressed children (they are now three, the third daughter, Trinity, was born in Switzerland). In immigration jail put before a choice: or they go to a camp for refugees and asked for political asylum, or separated from their children and deported by Interpol. Political asylum, they ask for would not, but there is nothing to choose. In the text Volchek quoted Vorotnikova: "...and we succumbed to a shelter... We were taken to the camp, paperwork and literally left lying on the floor in the aisle. We were told that this is the best camp for families with children".

In the words of the Collars hard to separate the sincere from the outrageous statements, you need to know him personally. But the author of the article confirms that the Collar, which was seen as an irreconcilable opponent of the authorities, do now become a supporter of Putin, commended the role of Volodin (which are already beginning to be called a possible successor to), admire Lavrov's foreign policy actions. The liberals expressed more contempt.

In contrast to the political, to the artistic processes in Russia Collars looks extremely skeptical. Pavlensky — "secondary shame". In General, in Russia nothing interesting, except that "Enjoyin" (makes funny videos on youtube) well done. Authority for Vorotnikova-прежнему does not exist, and at the global level too. Even Banksy, who listed the "War" money, — is, in his words, "painters, do everything for money."

Such is the strange metamorphosis. However, it is true I'm not entirely sure. Should we treat all the artist's words at face value? Or is it a non-conformist, driven to the limit, turned into ruthlessness towards colleagues, friends and sympathizers. There is no answer.

In the West, obvious Collars, too, was disappointed in the local artistic life does not want to integrate. Homesick, wants to return. Position available: "I basically refuse here to hold shares, participate in the artistic life. To criticize Russia is possible only from the inside, rather than sitting in the West... We are not emigrants, not refugees, it was not a gesture of our friends. Arrived on time, and then the channel returns shut..."

so. In Russia they waited for the prison and the risk of deprivation of parental rights that in the West — same.

article Volchek once again confirms the idea that the forced emigration remains one of the most sophisticated and efficient ways of killing of "soil" by the artist. Especially the nonconformist. And especially over the actionist. The gap with the country providing the author with the artistic context and environment, hard knocks out of the saddle. And found it difficultinformation exchange between the artist and his audience further complicates the situation. In a trap similar to the one which drove earlier of Avdey Ter-Оганьяна and Oleg Mavromati, now hit "War". But these guys are special. Believe that I will figure out how to get out. And I wish them luck.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

What else to read on:
svoboda.org,
AI: the trial of the War Oleg Vorotnikova decided to release on bail;
AI: VI contest "Innovation": "the War" — to be!;
AI: "Innovation" for "War": the Public chamber and the Ministry of culture exchanged views;
AI: the names of winners of the award "Innovation-2011".

P. S. Today we received information about the leader of the group "War". According to RBC, the court in Prague decided not to arrest Oleg Vorotnikov, who was detained in the Czech capital when scanning documents is 18 September 2016.