Putin’s Ashes

January 27, 2023

Putin’s Ashes was initiated in August 2022, when Pussy Riot burned a 10 x 10 foot portrait of the Russian president, performed rituals, and cast spells aimed to chase Putin away. Twelve women participated in the performance. In order to join, women were required to experience acute hatred and resentment toward the Russian president. Most of the participants were either Ukrainian, Belarusian, or Russian.

An immersive version of the film was brought to Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in 2023, and later to CONTAINER gallery in Santa Fe, followed by Dallas Contemporary. Artifacts from the action, including the gathered ashes of the effigy, were fashioned into art objects- and are now in the permanent collection of MOCA and the Brooklyn Museum.

Film directed, edited, styled and scored by Nadya Tolokonnikova.

English Lyrics:

we will find you everywhere
your ashes are smoldering in the dark

i’m not myself and you’re not yourself
putin’s ghost is with me

virgin mary is with us
we will eat you alive

sharpening a knife for putin
i will not forgive your evil

you burn burn to the ground
i’m taking you to hell