Archive! pARTisan #1’2002

Who is Aleś Puškin, famous Belarusian artist, which is known by his actions against modern Belarusian State (especially “A Gift to President” in 1999).

He is a realist, perpetual nationalist, troublemaker or all these mixed together? This is the question Juraś Barysievič provides an answer to in the artist’s profile presented under the title The Lionhearted. He gives such a vivid description of Aleś Puškin’s performances that the reader seems to have had first-hand experience of seeing them. Unlike most other performers, Aleś communicates his real anguish rather than some imaginary problems of some imaginary world.

His life is far from being a bed of roses, suffice to say he did his military service in Afghanistan and has often been detained and arrested for his political performances, which certainly had essential impact on his personality and works. Aleś Puškin seems to take all his trials as catalysts rather than punishments.

A man who poured 300 ml of his blood on the canvas in order to bring back to life the traditional white-red-white Belarusian flag and was going to make self immolation his final happening is by all means more than just a patriot.

The artist has no right to take his life before his talent dies out, argues Juraś Barysievič, otherwise all his would-be works will be dead, too. In general Juraś Barysievič aspires to discern some element of the eternal in Aleś Puškin’s performances.

The article is availible on Belarusian.

Photo © web-site IDIOT

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