Video «Props for Revolutions,» 2003

In the early 1990s, naive people attended rallies, sincerely wishing to improve their lives.But by the 2000s, it became clear that they were victims of manipulation. That public opinion was being shaped by controlled media outlets owned by specific groups and by paid bloggers. And rallies were organized by professional political technologists who mimicked popular protests or support. Websites even emerged to provide crowds for these events.At that time, the artist Shaburov and his partner from the group «Blue Noses, ” Mizin, parodied this in a series of advertising lightboxes and videos, depicting a company called „Props for Revolutions.“ Costumed Siberian men with axes and pitchforks posed against a backdrop of glamorous storefronts.