Where does art end? Where does politics start? From Performance to Actionism.

Dear Russofonistas,

This time we are inviting you to an unavoidably controversial and - we hope - transforming debate on the cry-out art that is happening now in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and across the post-soviet space.

Yes, we mean the world-famous Pussy Riot, Femen, Petr Pavlensky...Wait, you have not heard of Pavlensky? Do google him. The question we are posing is this: is there a point when art ends and pure politics start? What is this point? Should artists be put into prison for shocking the society? What is art in our society? Do we have the right vocabulary to talk about art? Should we even be asking ourselves these questions?

On Sunday 31st of January, at Associação José Afonso, Rua de São Bento, 170 Lisbon (http://share.here.com/r/mylocation/e-eyJuYW1lIjoiQWphIExpc2JvYSIsImFkZHJlc3MiOiJSdWEgZGUgU1x1MDBlM28gQmVudG8sIDE3MCwgTGlzYm9uLCBQb3J0dWdhbCIsImxhdGl0dWRlIjozOC43MTI2MSwibG9uZ2l0dWRlIjotOS4xNTI4NCwicHJvdmlkZXJOYW1lIjoiZmFjZWJvb2siLCJwcm92aWRlcklkIjo2MTI0MTIyODg4ODg5ODd9?link=addresses&fb_locale=en_US&ref=facebook), which is right in front of the Parliament, we shall start with a free class of Russian at 15.30. Alas, many Russian words are too long- yet don´t be discouraged! - there are short and easy ones, too:) Together we´ll learn a couple.

From 16.00 till 18.00 we´ll show a number of performance videos (some quite audacious!) from the post-soviet countries and have two brilliant experts who will share their artistic vision: Verónica Metello, curator and art historian focusing on actionism, and João Garcia Miguel (http://www.joaogarciamiguel.com), theatre director, playwrite and performer.

Join us and tell us: What do YOU think? What do YOU feel?

Here is a link to the full description of the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/159244164449476/

The event is absolutely free. We'll have interepters for those who do not speak either Portugue, or Russian, or English.

Your Russofonia:)