Nadya Tolokonnikova isnt one to dither.
(Its on through October 20.)
Vogue: When did you first become conscious of art?
Nadya Tolokonnikova, at the OK Linz museum, beneath herDamocles Sword.
When did you discover it, and when did you commit yourself to it?
I mean, this sort of thing never happened.
And I found it captivating, and just looked at it for hours and hours on repeat.
From “Putin’s Ashes.”
My friends were like, Why do you keep staring at this?
It was something that I just took very close to my heart.
I guess its in the depths of everything that I do today.
The installation of sex dolls in “Rage.”
I realized, Ohthisis the way to live.
He read a piece of poetry from Alexander Pushkin.
Yeahat one time in my life his work was very close to my heart.
you might rethink the whole heritage of Pushkin once again.
What about making your own art?
From that moment, I dedicated myself to figuring it out.
I came to Moscow and started looking for people with whom I could create art.
You asked me if we considered it art, or activism, or protest.
For me, art and politics are really inseparable.
Oh, yeaheveryone really gets off when old people from NPR say Pussy Riot.
Is it a perfect answer?
I dont knowart is always a process.
But this was an attempt.
But theres also what seems like love, and attachment, and care and concern for Russia.
Is that fair to say?
Yeah, its dark matter.
I wouldnt say hatred, though.
So, its complicated: there is hope, there is pain, and there is rage.
The Linz exhibition also has a Rage Chapel.
The installation of sex dolls in Rage.
I took that very seriously, and I think that’s what Ive been doing ever since.
Thats why you see these symbols, or runes, if you wish, that I’m creating.
Did she give her consent to have sex with the Holy Spirit?
Did she actually want to have the baby?
And why is her voice not written in the New Testament?
I feel like if she was hanging out here today, shed become another member of Pussy Riot.
Religious people talk about the fear of God, which is absurd to me.
Why would I have to fear God?
I understand how I can love God, but not fear God.
Its an endless list.
Thats what I call the new Dark Agesthis is the topic of thisDark Matterseries.
I love what Jenny Holzer said in arecentNew YorkTimesarticleabout her: she said, Optimism is not my specialty.
We were expecting things to get better, and theyre just getting gradually worse and worse and worse.
Ive found that art happens to be a good therapeutic method.
What about political action?
I think whatever speaks to you.
Whatever you have, whatever you enjoy doingor at least whatever saves you from ultimate despair.
This is the place Im at right now; joy is long gone.
But also, of course, aside from all our metaphysical bullshit, just vote.
Its a very real thing that everyone can dojust vote for democracy.
My point being thatnot votingwhen just voting can mean saving democracy itselfisnt always apolitical.
I really loved what Navalny proposed for a few elections in Russia.
He called it Smart Vote, and it was actually very simple: Vote for anyone whos not Putin.
So, yeah, Im here for that.
Mental health is important.
I do struggle with major depressive disorder, PTSD, anxiety.
Ive found that TMStranscranial magnetic stimulationreally helps me.
Its magnetic stimulation, much more gentle, and I did two courses of that.
But it really helped with bringing back motivation, and resilience, and stability in my mood.
Does it influence my art?
I dont really think so.
And I need to feel good about myself.
I want them to be inspired.
We have each other.
Im not Taylor Swift.
Im for the weirdos.
