Blocking Soft Power: Halting the Russian Mariinsky Theater in NYC
Project: Global Advocacy | Outcome: Russian Performance Canceled
In the world of geopolitics, art is never just art. State-sponsored cultural institutions are often used as vehicles for "soft power"—attempts to normalize relations and whitewash aggression on the global stage.
When we identified that the Mariinsky Theater—a direct extension of the Russian state—was scheduled to perform at Lincoln Center, we recognized it for what it was: a cultural Trojan horse. We moved immediately to block it.
Coalition Building A protest requires more than anger; it requires leverage. We rapidly mobilized a coalition of influence, partnering with the activist group Svitanok, local political figures, and business leaders who understood the ethical liability of hosting a Russian state asset during an active invasion.
Tactical Disruption: The "Blood Ballet" We understood that standard picketing would be ignored. To capture the media narrative, Bird of Light Ukraine executed a piece of guerrilla theater.
The Prop: We deployed the now-iconic gold-framed portrait of Vladimir Putin (the same artifact that later traveled to Burning Man and the Ukrainian National Museum).
The Performance: Dressed as a Russian ballet troupe, our activists performed a satirical, haunting dance in front of the portrait, "praising" the dictator while splattering the scene with red paint.
The Message: The visuals were undeniable. By juxtaposing the elegance of ballet with the imagery of bloodshed, we forced the public to see the connection between the art on stage and the violence in Ukraine.
A Strategic Victory The pressure worked. Faced with our coalition’s demands and the visceral public backlash, the scheduled performances at Lincoln Center were canceled.
The New York Times reported on the decision, marking a significant moment in the cultural dialogue regarding the war. We successfully established a precedent: there is no "neutrality" for state-sponsored institutions.
Ethical Accountability This was a victory for ethical consistency. While we believe in the power of art to heal, we refuse to allow it to be used as a mask for injustice. By halting this performance, we sent a clear message to cultural institutions worldwide: you cannot celebrate the culture of a state while ignoring its crimes.
