Nadezhda Tolokonnikova Stays Locked Up for Two Weeks at LA Museum
Activist from Pussy Riot Group Re-Encounters Rebuilt Jail Cell at American Museum
Get a glimpse of life behind bars, courtesy of Pussy Riot co-founder Nadezhda Tolokonnikova. For two weeks, you can watch her live in a replica prison cell at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. Her performance, titled "Police State," aims to shed light on the dangers of increasing surveillance and the rise of authoritarian regimes globally.
During museum hours, Tolokonnikova, 35, lives the prison experience authentically, eating, using the bathroom, and even sewing clothes, just as she did during her own Russian imprisonment. Visitors can catch a glimpse through surveillance cameras and small viewing windows.
By recreating her incarceration, Tolokonnikova hopes to raise awareness about the growing threat of surveillance through technology and the emergence of "police states" worldwide. Having lived under an authoritarian system for over 25 years, Tolokonnikova understands how things can escalate quickly. Initially, one person might be arrested, but soon, "the whole country is under military power."
The return of US President Donald Trump to the White House in January, according to her, accelerates the "erosion of the separation of powers." Through her performance, she encourages society to actively fight against misuse of power. "We all have to help," she says emphatically, as no one else will come to the rescue. Catch her live until June 14 at MOCA.
Pussy Riot became famous for their daring 2012 protest action in the Moscow Christ the Savior Cathedral, where they performed a "punk prayer" criticizing Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Following the performance, several band members were sentenced to prison terms. The band now resides in exile.
According to sources, Tolokonnikova's performance at the MOCA features a layered soundscape of live-played music, sampled noises, and visual elements like guard towers and video streams that emphasize the omnipresent surveillance characteristic of police states. Inside the cell, artworks from current and former political prisoners serve as a stark reminder of the real experiences of political repression[1][3].
The performance epitomizes resilience and resistance amid oppression. By recreating her prison experience and combining personal history with global forms of state control, Tolokonnikova delivers a powerful critique of authoritarian power and surveillance[3][4].
Living a Daunting Prison Experience in the Heart of a US Museum, the pussy-riot activist, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, provides a unique insight into her life. Her performance, 'Police State,' not only focuses on her personal struggles but also addresses broader political issues such as increasing surveillance and the emergence of "police states" worldwide, tying into the general news and lifestyle discussions. This exhibition, housed at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, serves as a testament to her resilience and resistance against oppression, using art as a medium to draw attention to the dangers of authoritarian regimes.
