Many people hate modern art. It’s pretentious, not understandable and strange. But it’s at least an art. It’s a book, it’s painting, it’s sculpture. Most people think about art not as about some principles or ideas but as about some concrete things – like, again, sculptures, paintings and books. Some people will add something, some – delete. But still, they all have this concrete…list. 

But what then about street performance? If I’ll nail my balls to the street – how can this be art? And what about the burning of police building? It’s vandalism – not art! It’s very bad – to burn something! Art should be peaceful, contain only rainbows, unicorns and infinite energy of positivity!!! If you will shut up with your negativity, all bad things will just disappear from this world! 

Well, unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. And art is not a thing that can be put in the museum. Art is a principles. And no, these principles is not about “love, friendship and rainbows”. 
The main goal of art – do not leave untouched, do not leave without feelings. Art should awake you, should burn you from inside – lightening up your eyes. And it mustn’t be correct, polite and kind. It can prick you in your back. It can be rude with you – if this has a purpose. 

So, returning to our topic. Why would a person burn the doors of FSB building – and call it art? Maybe because the FSB and police crossed the line? Maybe because they torture people? Maybe because they drop drugs into innocent activists pockets? Maybe because they jail people for reposts? All these things cannot be ignored. And art must say it’s word. And it does. But not only by writers or painters. Also by street artists. 

And…you know what? Art should not only awake your feelings – but also be aesthetic. And don’t you think that this photo of Pavlensky, in the headline, is very aesthetic? It symbolizes so many things. It’s like a flag of revolution – inspiring and attractive.