Dek Unu Magazine - Polina Schneider

Born in Russia, and now living in Germany, artist-photographer, Polina Schneider, gives us I, Superhero, an artist’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Life has changed abruptly there since that date and, with this series, Schneider, like so many other contemporary artists, is trying, in her unique and poetic way, to make sense of it. Most dissident and subversive art is strident and sharply outspoken, but "I, Superhero" is a much more subtle look at the wide emotional landscape of the conflict, and the ways in which non-combatants, like Polina herself, try to manage their feelings of helplessness, outrage, confusion, and guilt as life goes on. To oppose Putinism and its devastating effect on Russian culture, she nominates Grumpy Cat, an unusual, quixotic “superhero” who can, in the artist’s words, “…show how people really feel, how horrified they are about what is happening, and how difficult it is to remain silent.”