Thursday 9 October 2014

Lenin and Christ.

Two art works involving Lenin depicted in the guise of Christ or walking with Christ. The first is Vagrich Bakhchanyan's Crucifixion which was viewable through a peephole. Bakhchanya was born in Kharkov but of Armenian origin. He was also famous for having designed Lolita book covers with images of Lenin and Stalin.

Vagrich Bakhchanyan's Crucifixion from the 1980s

Alexander Kosolapov's Hero, Leader, God seems to suggest Lenin and Christ as (same sex?) parents of Mickey Mouse. He is well-known for linking consumer culture images with both Lenin and Christ which caused apoplexy in some religious leaders. A caviar Virgin Mary was removed from one exhibition whereas another Coca-Cola poster with a face of Christ and the slogan Coca-Cola: This is My Blood was vandalised during an exhibition at the Sakharov Centre in Moscow in 2003. The curators and gallery directors were persecuted rather than the vandals themselves.



Alexander Kosopalov's Hero, Leader, God from 2007.