august 9, 2012

As three of the members of the punk band Pussy Riot, who have been charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, gave their closing statements in court today (8 August), and international pop stars including Madonna call for their release, further reports of art-world solidarity have come to light. During the opening ceremony of this year's edition of the Moscow International Biennale for Young Art on 10 July, members of the audience held up placards spelling out “free Pussy Riot” when Vladimir Medinsky, Russia's minister of culture, gave his opening speech. “They held up the placards whenever there was a pause for applause in his speech,” says Kathrin Becker, the Berlin-based curator who organised the biennial. Becker was concerned that the new St Petersburg law forbidding “homosexual propaganda” could jeopardise the event. But she says: “We have had no problems so far.” The biennial closes next week on 19 August.

via: the art newspaper

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