The Art of Protest

Power fears artists not because they “criticize,” but because they can do the essential thing: change language — and therefore change what people consider normal. But how can one find a new, compelling artistic language and form for activist or political practice?

At Thursday’s session, we will explore how protest functions in art in practice — from posters and performance to memes and artistic “evidence.”

We will revisit well-known global examples:

• Pussy Riot’s action in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour,

• Ai Weiwei’s project “Remembering” about the victims of the Sichuan earthquake,

• Banksy’s guerrilla works in public space,

• and Guerrilla Girls’s performances against sexism in art institutions.

In the theoretical part, we will examine:

• How protest became an artistic strategy and how it differs from politics.
• Why an artistic gesture can be more powerful than a direct slogan.
• Censorship, scandals, bans: how authorities respond to artists.
• Three mechanisms of power’s fear: symbol, publicity, collectivity.

In the practical part:

Each participant will create their own artistic statement — even if you think “I can’t” or “I’m new to this.”

• A fast 10×10 idea-generation protocol, without overload.
• Creating a post, a poster, or a short visual series on your phone — your choice.
• A mini-performance or gesture in a safe format — to express yourself without burning out.

Suitable for beginners. No need to “know how to draw.”
All you need is the willingness to think and experiment.

If you’re curious how art can actively influence life and politics — not just “express feelings” — join us on Thursday.

The session will be led by Leni Smoragdova @smoragdova_lessons, educator at the School of Contemporary Art and Transaction Art artist.
(The image features one of the speaker’s works.)