Welcome! Sochi 2014
Artist: Vasily Slonov
Year: 2013
Date of Action: June 2013
Region: Russia and Central Asia
Location: Russia's Perm Region
Subject: Copyright, Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Sculpture
Confronting Bodies: Perm Regional Ministry of Culture
Description of Artwork: Vasily Slonov's exhibition "Welcome! Sochi 2014" presents various takes on Sochi 2014 olympic iconography in order to depict the social and labor injustices that have been associated with the coming olympic games. Some of the more high profile pieces include a mock-poster depicting the olympic rings as a series of interlocking nooses and a rough-looking hatchet with the Sochi 2014 logo emblazoned on the axe head.
The Incident: The curator and director of the Perm Museum of Contemporary Art, Marat Guelman, was forced to leave his post after refusing to remove Slonov's "Welcome! Sochi 2014" exhibit. A week prior, Slonov's work was removed by Russian authorities from a cultural festival. Guelman, who organized the festival, responded by moving the exhibit into the Perm Museum. Guelman's twitter page suggests that he was fired from his post by Igor Gladnev, the Perm regional minister of culture.
Authorities cited to unauthorized use of the Sochi 2014 logo as the reason Vasily Slonov's work was targeted.
Results of Incident: Marat Guelman was fired from his position as director and curator of the Perm Museum of Contemporary art, but Slonov's "Welcome! Sochi 2014" remains on display.