SAMIZDAT: a five part book series on the events surrounding alexey navalny’s arrest
2021
this project is a response to the recent protests around Russia in response to Alexey Navanly’s poisoning and arrest with using reference to the soviet self publishing movement during the 1950s-80s, samizdat.
this series of books explores different facets of the protests including: who is Navalny and why the injustice enacted against him has provoked nationwide protests, two articles that provided live updates of the protests, accounts of police brutality and apartment raids, protest language. actions for femme political prisoners, and an essay on the history of samizdat, self publishing, digital censorship and the role of print in dissident media.
all of the books have relied on risograph printing as its primary production technology. i have combined traditional printmaking, risograph printing, and a range of book bindings and book structures to showcase various styles of self publishing.
this series of books explores different facets of the protests including: who is Navalny and why the injustice enacted against him has provoked nationwide protests, two articles that provided live updates of the protests, accounts of police brutality and apartment raids, protest language. actions for femme political prisoners, and an essay on the history of samizdat, self publishing, digital censorship and the role of print in dissident media.
all of the books have relied on risograph printing as its primary production technology. i have combined traditional printmaking, risograph printing, and a range of book bindings and book structures to showcase various styles of self publishing.
SAMIZDAT PART 1: NAVALNY BIOGRAPHY
russian/english risograph printed biography of
Alexey Navalny; screenprinted cover; saddle stitch.
edition of 20
edition of 20
SAMIZDAT PART 2:
MAMA WOULD BE PROUD
russian/english risograph printed collection of news articles covering the Navalny protests and first hand accounts of events from protestors interviewed by Mediazona and from @koifman.m describing his experience with being detained and having his apartment searched accompanied with 15 linocut block prints. coptic bound.
edition of 20
SAMIZDAT PART 3:
AKVADISKOTEKA
russian/english risograph printed Mediazona article covering the origin “Akvadiskoteka” protest slogan and the “aquatic disco” in the plans for Putin’s mansion, including his chosen playlist. fishbone accordion fold.
edition of 20
SAMIZDAT PART 4:
FEAR AND LOVING
FEAR AND LOVING
russian/english risograph printed Mediazona articles covering peaceful Valentine’s day protests with flashlights, the arrest of a Pussy Riot member, and an Instagram post from @polina.jpeg describing a circle of solidarity with women political prisoners that took place in St. Petersburg where the participants read verses from the Anna Akhmatova poem, Requiem. z-fold.
edition of 20
edition of 20
SAMIZDAT PART 5
russian/english risograph printed personal essay on the history of samizdat, the censorship that gave birth to samizdat and how this compares to digital censorship, particularly in Russia and the United States, and the role of print tactility in a digitally dependant age.
edition: 20
edition: 20