Untitled (Supermarket Price Tags) by Sasha Skochilenko: Protesting the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Being Jailed for It
In mid-August 2024, Russian artist Sasha Skochilenko was freed after one year of wrongful imprisonment by the Russian government. Officially, Skochilenko had been sentenced to seven years in prison for spreading “fake news” about the Russian army. In reality, this sentence was brought upon her for enacting a socially charged performance/public art piece. In the piece, Skochilenko had gone to a local supermarket in St. Petersburg and replaced its price tags with photoshopped tags that highlighted just how perverse the Russian invasion of Ukraine is, for both Ukrainians and Russians alike. This is why Skochilenko’s untitled (Supermarket Price Tags) piece is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
One of Sckochilenko’s labels read “Young Russian soldiers were dying for ten years during the Afghan War,” while the other proclaimed “Russian forces have destroyed 80% of Mariupol. For what?” Another screamed “My great grandfather did not fight in WWII for four years so that Russia could become a fascist state and attack Ukraine.” This peaceful protest landed her a seven-year prison sentence, despite doctors warning that her medical conditions, which includes celiac disease and a congenital heart defect, meant that she would not survive life behind bars.
As of 3-9 August 2024, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) has tracked that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is currently the 2nd deadliest conflict in the world. Between January to April 2024 alone, around 2,500 explosions or remote violence has occurred in conflict areas. As the year progresses, the number of battles have only increased, reaching its highest point since the start of the war back in April 2022. Sasha Skochilenko bravely protests against this reality, which as everyone has witnessed, comes with dire consequences in both countries.
"Say what you want - I was wrong, or I was brainwashed, I will stand by my opinion and my truth," exclaimed Skochilenko during her trial. She had to serve one year in prison and was only released in August 2024 as part of a complex and unprecedented prisoner exchange between Russia and several other Western nations. In an interview with Mediazona, Skochilenko and her partner, Sofia Subbotina, shared how harrowing imprisonment was, with days passing where no one would have heard anything from Skochilenko. Hence, for her safety and well-being, they have decided to move to Berlin, Germany, where Skochilenko will continue her practice as an artist and someday hopes to return to a better Russia.
Sasha Skochilenko's brave and poignant art protest, embodied in her untitled (Supermarket Price Tags), highlights the human cost of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the oppressive environment within Russia itself. Her year-long imprisonment serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which authoritarian regimes will go to silence dissenting voices. Skochilenko's release, though a bittersweet victory, underscores the power of art as a tool for resistance and the heavy price artists may pay for speaking truth to power. As she continues her work in Berlin, her story and art remain a powerful testament to the enduring fight for peace, justice, and freedom in the face of tyranny.
Find out more about untitled (Supermarket Price Tags) and other pieces by Sasha Skochilenko on her Instagram @skochilenko.