Some artworks are brilliant, while others are utter nonsense. Ivan Volkov, a Russian artist, has released a new work that is a mix of the two. Last week, the Moscow-based artist visited St. Petersburg, where he unveiled a 15-foot-long snow sculpture shaped like a mound of crap at the Field of Mars, a historic square that previously served as a burial ground for Bolsheviks killed during Russia's 1917 revolution and civil war. In a since-deleted Facebook post featuring a picture of his creation, the artist stated of the square, "It's so lovely that I crap myself."
Volkov's potty humor was not amused by local authorities, and he is now in serious trouble. Police have filed a criminal case against the artist, citing article 244 of Russia's criminal code, which prohibits "desecration of bodies of the deceased and their burial locations." According to a local news site, the report states, "Intentionally, cynically, immorally, out of hooligan intentions, and violating the widely accepted standards and norms of behavior established in society, he created an art object made of snow in the form of big poo in a yellow puddle."
Volkov was apprehended as he attempted to board a train to return to Moscow. If police conclude that his objectives were political, he may face up to five years in prison for the act. A fine of 40,000 rubles (about $520) is the minimum penalty. According to some Russian news outlets, the artwork is a protest against the city of St. Petersburg's lack of roadway maintenance. Volkov, for one, told a Russian news site that the piece "had no particular importance" for him.
Volkov, a graduate of Moscow's Institute of Contemporary Art and Stroganoff Academy of Design and Applied Arts, is known for creating horrific snow sculptures in public spaces and uploading photos of them on social media. He revealed that his latest ephemeral piece was made with brown and yellow food coloring. Shortly after his arrest, the artist was released from custody, and his artwork was taken from the Field of Mars. You could say the excrement has been flushed.
Jean Dubreil