Material Evidence

Material Evidence is an international exhibition organized by Benjamin Hiller and Vladislav Shurigin,[1] with financial support from Zhurnalistskaya Pravda (Journalistic Truth), a Moscow-based newspaper.[2] Shurigin is a member of the National Bolshevik Party and Deputy Chief Editor of the extremist newspaper Zavtra.[2][3] The exhibition displays a view on civil conflicts in Syria 2011 and Ukraine 2013—2014.[4]

Layout

Photo exhibition is based on the material submitted by war correspondents illustrating countries where civil conflicts take place,[5][6][7] including Andrey Stenin who died near Donetsk.[8] The exhibition's original curator, Benjamin Hiller, is a German freelance photographer and journalist who works mainly on conflict photography in hotspots such as Syria and Ukraine.

Locations

The exhibition was held in a number of Russian, European, and American cities including Moscow, Ufa,[6][9][10] Grozny, Brussels, Berlin,[5][11] New York. It is planned to hold the exhibition in Los Angeles and Washington, as well as Canada.[12]

Reactions

According to organizers, over 50 thousand people have visited the galleries.[13]

While it was on display in New York City the exhibition was attacked and vandalized by group of people who Hiller claimed were neo-Nazis upset with Hiller's negative representation of Ukraine.[14] As a result some pictures had been defaced with black paint.[15] The identity of the alleged vandals has come under question.[2]

Controversy

The exhibit has become controversial due to its ties to Russian extremist newspaper Zavtra and its connection to a widespread Russian propaganda content farm network.[2][16] The singer Ruslana criticized the exhibit and its advertising campaign for its alleged ties to Russian politician Svetlana Zakharova.[17]

Funding

In an article by Gawker, according to the assistant curator of the New York exhibit "in Berlin, a "silent guy" visited, told the organizers he liked what he saw, then left. Later, he came back with a bag of cash and dropped it for them with no explanation."[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Вещдоки, которые удалось вывезти из Киева, теперь на выставке в Москве". 5 Channel Russia. April 8, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Babiak, Mat (6 October 2014). "New York’s anti-Ukrainian art gallery, and the far-right Russian network behind it". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.dynacon.ru/content/articles/1024/
  4. ↑ "Learn The Truth About What Is Going On". Material Evidence. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "‘Material Evidence. Syria. Ukraine’ on display in Berlin (PHOTOS, VIDEO)". RT. June 6, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "На выставке "Вещдоки. Сирия. Украина" в Нью-Йорке представлены работы уфимских фотографов". IA "Bashinform". September 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  7. ↑ "War Photographer Comes Back From Syria To Show You The Truth". WeAreChange.org. September 28, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  8. ↑ "Андрея Стенина похоронили в Москве". Lenta.ru. September 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  9. ↑ "Документальная фотовыставка о преступлениях экстремистов на Украине и в Сирии вызвала повышенный интерес у американцев". Euronews. September 26, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  10. ↑ "В Уфе открылась выставка "Вещдоки.Сирия"". IA "Bashinform". February 15, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  11. ↑ Photo exhibition "Material Evidences. Syria. Ukraine" in Berlin
  12. ↑ "Выставка о событиях в Сирии и Украине собрала несколько сотен человек". RIA Novosti. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  13. ↑ "В Нью-Йорке открылась выставка о военных конфликтах в Сирии и на Украине". Interfax-Azerbaijan. September 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  14. ↑ "Neo-nazis deface NYC art gallery over Euromaidan photo exhibit". Roger Annis. October 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
  15. ↑ "Exhibit on Ukraine Displays Signs of Vandalism". ArtsBeat, The New York Times. October 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 http://gawker.com/whos-behind-this-shady-propagandistic-russian-photo-ex-1643938683
  17. ↑ http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/09/21/ruslana-the-kremlins-disinformation-campaign-in-the-america/

External links