Culver City,
California
x
Dove
Date Made: 1991
Country: Soviet Union
Measurements: 93 cm x 63 cm x 3 cm; 36 5/8 in x 24 13/16 in x 1 3/16 in; 90 cm x 59.5 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 7/16 in
The artwork depicts a partially completed structure of a large metal dove with a rocket launcher for a beak, and has military tanks and guns crowded around its base. Red banners with slogans are positioned all around the lower half of the dove’s body, with Russian phrases such as “Glory to work, “Our work is for you, the party,” and “Our work-the cause of peace.” The image of a dove, the international symbol of peace, made up of grey metal pieces rather than white feathers, juxtaposed with Party slogans conveys a negative association of the Communist Party with peaceful change in 1991, the year the painting was made. The fall of the Soviet Union brought both change and political turmoil to Russia, and the militarized dove comments on the role of the Party, the military, and industry in the uncertain future of the Russian state.
Accession Number: 2009.053.063
Item Name: Painting
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
Collection/Series: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris