Documentary | 25 January 2024

Over the past decade, the artist Victoria Lomasko has dedicated herself to meticulously chronicling Putin's Russia, immersing herself in the heart of rallies and pivotal political moments. Fueled by a palpable sense of impending catastrophe, just a year before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she embarks on a profound exploration of the intricate connections between domestic and state-sponsored violence. Crafting a historical narrative that spans from the protest-filled winter of 2021 to the tragic winter of 2022, she distills her discoveries into what would become her most ambitious mural to date. As Putin launches a 'military operation' in Ukraine, branding Russian dissidents as "traitors, to be spat out like flies," Lomasko confronts the harsh reality that she can no longer continue her work in Russia. With this realization, she makes the courageous decision to leave everything behind and forge a new path.