Nadya Tolokonnikova’s Powerful Performance Confronts Police State

Nadya Tolokonnikova, co-founder of Pussy Riot and a champion of artistic expression and social justice, is set to recreate her two-year imprisonment experience in Russia’s penal system at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. The durational performance, titled Police State, will take place from June 5th to 14th as part of MOCA’s Wonmi WARHOUSE Program.

Tolokonnikova will be confined to a steel replica of a Russian jail cell, a poignant reminder of her harrowing experience following Pussy Riot’s iconic anti-Putin performance Punk Prayer in 2012. This installation is drawn from Tolokonnikova’s personal experience and serves as a powerful commentary on the Russian government’s treatment of political prisoners.

The performance will be viewable through surveillance camera footage and peepholes in the museum, allowing visitors to gaze upon Tolokonnikova’s confinement. This intimate setup invites viewers to reflect on the themes of surveillance, control, and resistance that are woven throughout the installation.

Tolokonnikova’s experience in Russia’s penal system has not deterred her from speaking out against the government’s human rights abuses. In fact, her activism has only intensified since her release from prison. Her open letter published in The Guardian in 2013 detailed the brutality of the penal colony and sparked international outrage.

In Police State, Tolokonnikova reclaims the site of confinement as a space of resistance and creative expression, coinciding with a moment when mass detentions and deportations are happening throughout the United States. This performance serves as a powerful reminder that art can be a potent tool for social change.

Pussy Riot’s confrontational style has become a hallmark of feminist and anti-authoritarian art around the world. Tolokonnikova’s unwavering commitment to artistic expression and social justice is a testament to the enduring power of Pussy Riot’s message.

Tolokonnikova currently has two solo exhibitions on view: “Wanted” at Galerie Nagel Draxler in Berlin and “Punk’s Not Dead Part II” at Honor Fraser in Los Angeles. Her continued activism and artistic expression serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up against oppression.