Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist protest and performance art group, has once again found itself embroiled in controversy, with the creation of their non-fungible token (NFT) artwork sparking criminal charges in Russia. The authorities have accused the group of “hurting the religious feelings” of Russian citizens with their latest NFT piece, titled “Virgin Mary, Please Become a Feminist.”
The artwork features an image of the Christian figure of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by explicit imagery, and overlaid on top of a copy of Nadya Tolokonnikova’s 2012 arrest documents. Tolokonnikova, who is a prominent artist and activist and the representative and vocal force behind Pussy Riot, remains defiant in the face of the charges, stating that “art is [her] weapon.”
This is not the first time that Pussy Riot has clashed with the authorities in Russia. The group gained international notoriety in 2012 when they staged a protest in a Moscow church, performing a “Punk Prayer” that was critical of the Russian government and the Orthodox Church’s support for it. The protest resulted in charges of “hooliganism” and Tolokonnikova’s imprisonment for over two years.
Last year, the group made headlines once again when they burned a 10 x 10-foot portrait of Putin and performed rituals and spells to “chase Putin away.” The provocative act was seen as a direct challenge to the Russian government and a symbol of the group’s commitment to political and social activism.
Tolokonnikova is also involved with UkraineDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) that sold an NFT of the Ukrainian flag for over $6 million to support resistance and relief efforts in Ukraine. The sale was seen as a significant success for the organization and a testament to the power of blockchain technology to support social and political causes.
The latest charges against Pussy Riot have once again sparked a debate about the limits of free speech and artistic expression in Russia. While the authorities have accused the group of offending religious citizens with their latest NFT artwork, many see the charges as a thinly veiled attempt to silence political dissent and stifle creativity.
Despite the controversy, Pussy Riot remains committed to its mission of using art and activism to challenge authority and promote social change. Whether through their music, performance art, or blockchain activism, the group continues to inspire and provoke audiences around the world.