October 19, 2021

A Bare Cat-art-strophe in Kazan


A Bare Cat-art-strophe in Kazan
Ban the booty? kazan_only on Instagram

A resident of Kazan got into a social media huff on October 13 when she noticed artist Kristina Mitnichuk painting another female figure in Freedom Square in the city's center. The subject was, for the indignant woman at least, far too scantily clad, though the model was not laying it all bare. She posed clothed in red lingerie and black high-heeled boots.

“I am writing this comment because I was outraged by the trick of the artist (though what kind of art is it??), who paints a naked girl right in the very center of the city. My husband is looking at this, at a half-naked woman, and in general this is some kind of disrespect!” the user complained on one of the city’s public Instagram pages. She also wrote that she alerted the police, who did not react.

Most of those who commented on the post defended the artist, and a number laughed about the woman’s defense of her maligned husband: “What a husband. I also would have looked,” wrote user 116alinakzn. Others seemed to enjoy the sight themselves, such as vit_0001, who commented, “I want more of these kinds of artists and models on the streets of the city. I’m sure Kazan will become even more beautiful.”

Of course, other reactions were not so positive. A few suggested the artist might have chosen a better place, such as the beach, to stage her muse; others were concerned about the ethical implications. User shakurova1989 lamented that children would have noticed the scene, too; and gulnaz_diplomi called the act “immoral,” complaining that it seems people now are beginning to “confuse dignity with vulgarity.”

Though some believe true art will never be a crowd-pleaser, Mitnichuk and her model seemed to get along just fine with a few likes and the bare necessities. It’s not like this is the first time a Russian art project has ended with someone getting nearly naked, anyway.

 

You Might Also Like

Cracking the Tourism Nut

Cracking the Tourism Nut

The main obstacles to Kazan becoming a bustling international hub relate to its outlying location and its obscurity.
Restoring the Future
  • January 01, 2021

Restoring the Future

A determined artist, photographer, and activist takes on the restoration of some wooden homes in a village just outside of Samara. In the process, she learns much about angle grinders, her fellow Russians, and, of course, herself.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
Russia Rules

Russia Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.
At the Circus

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955