On February 28, a Russian-language Facebook user, Серега Шведов, shared a photo and a video that allegedly depicts an exhibition dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the war in Ukraine at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The author of the post claims that a thematic performance was held in New York, where the Ukrainian military was presented as “a pile of excrement”. The photo also shows an Instagram “story,” which includes information related to the exhibition called “Heroiam Slava.”
An identical video with a similar description has also been distributed on Russian-language Telegram channels (1, 2, 3).
The claim that the “Museum of Modern Art” hosted an exhibition where the Ukrainian military was presented offensively is false. The video depicts a performance by contemporary artist William Cobbing and has no connection to Ukraine. In fact, MoMA PS1 has never held an exhibition with a similar name.
The video and photo with a misleading description were originally distributed by the Russian-language Telegram channel, ТРОЙКА. The name of the Telegram channel is also printed on the distributed material.
In fact, the video shows contemporary artist William Cobbing’s project called “Social Substance”, which is a series of videos, sculptures, and performances. Proct’s main element is clay, “Social Substance” explores the ambiguous relationships between people immersed in formless mounds of clay, ceramic objects and television screens are equated with each other. In the series of works, there are often people half-covered with a mass of clay. The ceramist presented this project in 2023, and he himself distributed the videos on social networks. This performance was organized not in New York’s “Museum of Modern Art”, but within the framework of the British Ceramics Biennale, in the Air Space Gallery.
The screenshot shared by ТРОЙКА claimed that the performance dedicated to “Ukrainian freedom fighters” would be held at MoMA PS1. MoMA PS1 is an alternative space movement founded in the 1970s that now operates both as a public art school and under the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
“Myth Detector” contacted the Museum of Contemporary Art to verify whether MoMA PS1 actually hosted an exhibition called Hemoriam Slava, and they denied holding such an exhibition in their space. Several performances and exhibitions were held at MoMA PS1 in February 2024, but none of them were dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
About the Source
The Russian-language Facebook account Серега Шведов has published disinformation in the past as well, which was debunked by “Myth Detector”.
Archive links: ТРОЙКА
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