ICON "DIPTYCH"
2017
Materials: vitreous enamel, silver, brass, copper, acrylic paint,
gilding, varnish, wood
A recent survey in Russia has shown that Joseph Stalin remains the most popular personality (46 % in 2017, 42 % in 2012) followed by Vladimir Putin (34 % in 2017, 22 % in 2012) and Vladimir Lenin (32 % in 2017, 37 % in 2012)*. The situation in Ukraine looks slightly better, but still Stalin gets 31% of sympathy, Lenin 25 % **. Such substantial numbers of respondents sympathizing with these gentlemen are alarming - regardless of whether they result from Stockholm syndrome, the longing for a strong leader or imperialistic aspirations.
My project addresses the outcome of these surveys and poses the question if a personality cult could be established nowadays and to what consequences it could lead.
* data of the Analytical Center of Yuriy Levada (February and June 2017)
** data of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Sociological Group Rating (2016)
