Russian Dissident Artist Prokhor Gusev Continues Anti-War Projects from Norwegian Exile
Prokhor Gusev, a Russian artist and LGBT advocate, co-founded the now-defunct Moscow firm INKURS and has been living in voluntary exile in Norway since autumn 2022 alongside his wife, Gulnara Iskakova. They are actively involved in initiatives opposing the war in Ukraine. Gusev remarked, "February 2022 will last until the end of the war." Residing in Tromsø, they took part in the Barents Spektakel festival. Gusev's initiative, '1 life – 1 person – 1 minute,' focuses on the civilian casualties of Russian aggression, with daily updates on Instagram. Additionally, he launched the podcast 'Privjet emigrantam,' which draws comparisons between past and current Russian emigrants. Since February 24, 2022, over 19,500 individuals have been detained in Russia for anti-war protests.
Key facts
- Prokhor Gusev is a Russian artist, theatre director, and LGBT activist in voluntary exile in Norway since autumn 2022.
- He co-founded the independent Moscow company INKURS, now inactive due to the political situation.
- Gusev and his wife Gulnara Iskakova reside at the Davvi Center for Performing Arts in Tromsø, Norway.
- He participated in the Barents Spektakel festival at Pikene på Broen in Kirkenes as one of 30 independent Russian artists.
- Gusev's project '1 life – 1 person – 1 minute' posts daily Instagram sound recordings and civilian casualty numbers from the UN.
- The podcast series 'Privjet emigrantam' compares historical and contemporary Russian emigrant stories.
- Over 19,500 people have been arrested in Russia for anti-war protests since February 24, 2022, per OVD-info.
- Gusev's anti-war performance in April 2022 was shut down by authorities, leading to clandestine communication.
Entities
Artists
- Prokhor Gusev
- Gulnara Iskakova
Institutions
- INKURS
- Davvi Center for Performing Arts
- Pikene på Broen
- Barents Spektakel
- OVD-info
- United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Artribune
Locations
- Norway
- Moscow
- Russia
- Kazakhstan
- Tromsø
- Kirkenes
- Ukraine