Russian art silenced
In the winter of 2022, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the long-standing rock group Bi-2 was on a countrywide tour. Bi-2, known for its lyrical sing-along anthems that blend rebellion and literary themes, found itself in a predicament. At a concert in Yekaterinburg, the band’s front men, Shura and Lyova, both in their fifties, boldly declared, “No to war!” hoping to influence events. However, their protest was short-lived. Upon arriving at a concert venue in Omsk, they were met with a large banner supporting Vladimir Putin’s invasion hanging behind the stage. Disturbed by this display, they covered it with a black cloth, but the venue’s director demanded its removal. Threatened by local authorities, the concert was eventually canceled fifteen minutes before it was scheduled to commence.
As a result of their anti-war stance, Bi-2 faced a series of cancellations by different venues across the country. Despite having connections within the government, including receiving support from Maria Zakharova, the band’s media manager, Igor Rubinstein, explained the struggle they faced in trying to identify the source of the ban. Eventually, they discovered that they had been labeled undesirable artists on a list distributed among regional authorities and cultural departments. Although these lists were unofficial and lacked legal basis, they served as a form of censorship, leading to serious consequences for the affected artists.
The responsibility for banning Bi-2 concerts fell to Sergei Novikov, a key figure in Putin’s administration with an interest in classical music. Novikov, with a background in opera directing, had assumed the role of chief censor for cinema, theatre, and music during the conflict in Ukraine. This new position allowed him to influence artistic expression in line with the state’s interests, as evidenced by his editing of television scripts and ambitious ideas for movie projects based on militant commanders in the Donbas region. Novikov’s managerial approach to art criticism emphasized his authority over creative content, reinforcing the control exerted over the cultural sphere by the state.
In a meeting with Bi-2 members, including Shura and Lyova seeking clarification on their situation, Novikov’s demeanor reflected his newfound power amid the ongoing conflict. With the war providing a pretext for tightening control over artistic expression in Russia, artists like Bi-2 found themselves at odds with the state’s vision for cultural production. Their struggle to perform freely and express dissent highlighted the challenges faced by artists in an environment where artistic independence is increasingly constrained by political interests.