Culver City,
California
x
Until the Thunder Sounds…
Date Made: 1991
Country: Soviet Union
Measurements: 90 cm x 60 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 5/8 in
The title of this artwork, scrolled across the center of the composition, is the first part of a traditional Russian saying that translates roughly to “until thunder sounds, the man won’t cross himself,” meaning that people do not take preventive measures when they are in a bad situation until it becomes truly dire. With the portrayal of a cartoonish Gorbachev on a stage with side curtains, the phrase doubtless refers to the 1991 August coup that endeavored to oust him from power, hinting that Gorbachev should have seen this coup coming. The State Committee for the State of Emergency led by hard-line Communist Party members attempted to overtake the Kremlin while Gorbachev was far away from his post, vacationing in Foros. In this artwork, Gorbachev, whose golden crown is falling off his head, is exposed as a figurehead ruler, losing his grip on the staff that holds the Soviet emblem. Lightning in the form of the letters GKChP, the acronym of the State Committee for the State of Emergency, is striking Gorbachev right on his red birthmark, making him look weak.
Accession Number: 2009.053.141
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