23rd October 2007
The Banksy inspired ‘An Epoch of Clemency’ has been banned by the Russian culture minister, Alexander Sokolov from being exhibited in a Russian art exhibition taking place in Paris. The photograph features two Russian policemen standing in between birch trees in a Siberian forest kissing, whilst caressing each others buttocks.
Alexander Sokolov describes the photograph as political provocation. He also explained that he was pulling sixteen other artworks from the exhibition for similar reasons. Such other works pulled from the exhibition include an image of Vladimir Putin, George Bush and Osama bin Laden fumbling in bed together in their underpants, titled blue noses.
Artists and critics were outraged at the minister's decision. "The state is beginning to administer culture in the same way it did under Khrushchev," said Alexander Shaburov, one of the two artists in Blue Noses.
Alexander Shaburov explained that the image of the two policemen was inspired by Banksy and had nothing to do with homosexuals. He continued to say it was an absurdist fantasy about what might happen if everyone showed mercy and tenderness to each other. "Given the fact the state has banned it, we haven't quite reached this point yet," he noted.
