CNN Style: Stage curtains are closing, art exhibitions are being halted and performers are being replaced. Over the past week, major cultural players worldwide -- including some within Russia -- have reacted to the invasion of Ukraine by canceling shows and applying pressure to the country's art institutions. So far, more than 500,000 refugees have fled Ukraine as the Kremlin continues its assault on the country's most populated cities, including the capital, Kyiv.
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In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the art world has generally responded by ceasing relations with Russia–cultural and economic. There's ways of doing this that respect Ukraine and are tangible, reasonable cultural ramifications and responses to the invasion–for instance, not exhibiting and platforming pro-Putin artists, however, there is a level of danger that comes with the censorship and blatant cultural war that the US is attempting to wage against Russia. A lot of the things that people are, rightfully so, blaming Putin's regime for are also things that the US as a state perpetuates, that often, people willfully ignore–for instance, the unlawful, unhumanitarian occupation of land. In addition to this, there is danger in equating Russian culture to Putin's government's actions, and the speed at which it is happening is terrifying. Contemporary Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson says, "support Ukrainian artists with residencies in safe countries (and) exhibition platforms, and (do) the same for Russian artists from the opposition"--this, I feel, is the best response.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about how these cultural boycotts are being executed in support of Ukraine. On one hand, I do not support the Russian invasion and I believe that targeting the Kremlin and its assets is one of many strategies that will be effective in putting an end to the violence. Some of these boycotts specifically target Russian government officials and Russian institutions with significant government backing, which punishes the people who started this mess. However, some of these boycotts of “Russian culture” in general seem to be more punishing towards Russian artists that have no ties to the government and even artists that are critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We do not blame cultures for invasions, for those are the work of government bodies and not every citizen. If that were the case, American and British artists should be banned from half the world's cultural institutions for their countries' atrocities, but we see how ridiculous that would be. Culture war quickly descends into dehumanization, and as artists we must stand up for each other. Punish the Kremlin all you want, but don’t fall for this xenophobia.
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