Eve's Ribs

Eve's Ribs
Russian: «Рёбра Евы»
Formation2015; 9 years ago (2015)
Websitewww.rebraevy.ru Edit this at Wikidata

Eve's Ribs (Russian: «Рёбра Евы») is a feminist multifaceted social and artistic project dedicated to fighting gender discrimination and violence against women.[1] Itcovers several areas of socially-oriented work, including anti-war actionism. The project was founded in 2015 by Saint Petersburg-born director and actionist Leda Garina and actress and theatre producer Anastasia Trizna, who permanently resides in Helsinki.[2]

Eve's Ribs project was initially established as a training centre specializing on visual practices, such as: performance, documentary theatre, video art, etc,[2] and aimed at regional and feminist groups. Since 2015, it has regularly organized educational outdoor feminist schools in the Leningrad Oblast.[3]

Since 2015, Eve's Ribs has also held an annual festival of the same name, consisting of documentary theatre, film, and performance, in Saint Petersburg.[1][2][3] A total of five festivals have taken place. In 2019, the festival became an object of increased police attention due to a complaint by "gay-fighter" Timur Bulatov;[4] a recording of "Pink and Blue" performance by Yulia Tsvetkova[5][6] was screened in the presence of the police. In 2020, the festival was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Eve's Ribs festival took place in both Saint Petersburg and Moscow, presenting variety of works and public discussions in such venues as: The Meyerhold Center in Moscow, Theatre Litsedei in Saint Petersburg, etc. In 2022 and 2023, the festival was not held due to the emigration of the organizers after Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among festival’s participants were: Natasha Tyshkevich, editor of DOXA Magazine, who became a defendant in the DOXA case in 2021, and poet Oksana Vasyakina.

In 2016, Eve's Ribs collective created the humorous portal sexism.online ("Feminism for Dummies"), dedicated to topics of sexism. In 2016, screenwriter Leda Garina and artist Yulia Kurdi released a short animated work "Through the Asphalt" based on an essay by an American art historian, Professor Linda Nochlin, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" published in 1971, dedicated to discrimination against women in art.[7]

Soviet postage stamp of 1965 by the poster Irakli Toidze "Motherland Calls!"
Action “Motherland” at the Eternal Flame on the Field of Mars in Petersburg on Defender of the Fatherland Day, February 23, 2017
Action-triathlon “Hero Race” in St Petersburg on Defender of the Fatherland Day, February 23, 2020

As an art-collective, Eve's Ribs have authored dozens of performative street actions focused on gender violence and anti-war agenda, such as: an action against decriminalization of domestic violence near Moskovsky railway station in Saint Petersburg in January 2017,[8] anti-militarist action “Motherland” at the Eternal Flame on Field of Mars in Saint Petersburg on Defender of the Fatherland Day in 2017,[9][10] a procession against abortion along the Neva River - with the slogan "Orthodox Vaginal Control" on 1 October 2017,[11] "Give birth to meat" performance near the walls of the military recruitment office of the Leningrad Oblast on Defender of the Fatherland Day in 2019,[12] a triathlon "Race of Heroes" on Defender of the Fatherland Day in 2020,[13] and many others. In 2017, "Capture the Kremlin" action was held in the Kremlin on International Women’s Day. Photos capturing "Men in power for 200 years. Out with them!" banner on the Kremlin wall and "Feminism is a national idea" banner on one of the Kremlin towers, created in a graphic editor, became famous.[14] Eve's Ribs collective’s members have been repeatedly detained and harassed by law enforcement.[15][16][17][18] In August 2017, the organisers were detained by police while trying to hold a feminist camp on the Black Sea coast in the Tuapse district of Krasnodar Krai.[19][20] In autumn 2017, the BBC made a film about problems of Russian feminism, including detention of Eve's Ribs in Kuban. In 2017, Eve's Ribs opened an independent workspace in Fonarny Pereulok in Saint Petersburg,[21] where they held events for women, including: tea parties, support groups, a book club, an English speaking club, yoga lessons, lectures, masterclasses,[2][17] film screenings, and exhibitions.[3] Up to 300 free events were held annually.

In 2018, Eve's Ribs launched Russia's first digital library of feminist fairy tales on the Fairy Tales for Girls online platform. In 2019, two volumes of “Fairy Tales for Girls” were published in collaboration with the bookstore Vse Svobodny.[22]

In February 2019, Eve's Ribs opened feminist cafe called Simona in Fonarny Pereulok, 3 in Saint Petersburg. The cafe worked as a co-working space for women. Men were forbidden to enter, but the cafe was attempted to be broken into by the scandalous State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov, and was visited by journalist Alexei Nimandov (disguised as a transgender person)[23][24] and activists of the pro-Kremlin youth group Network.[25] The group is a spiritual heir to movement Nashi.

On 28 December 2020, Daria Apakhonchich, one of the project coordinators and editor of “Fairy Tales for Girls”, anti-war artist and co-author of the “Feminists Explain” channel, was given a foreign agent status.[26][27]

On 11 April 2022, an employee of Eve's Ribs, musician and artist Aleksandra Skochilenko, was arrested.[17] On 16 November 2023, she was sentenced, in a Saint Petersburg court, to seven years of imprisonment for replacing supermarket price tags with antiwar slogans in 2022.[28]

After the start of the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the organizers left Russia under the threat of political persecution[29] and continue their work abroad.

  1. ^ a b Gloria De Felice (February 21, 2018). "My First Feminist Festival Experience in Russia (nur.fi)". Medium. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "«Бьёт — значит любит?» В Петербурге открылся театральный фестиваль «Рёбра Евы» о семейном насилии" ["Does beating mean love?" Eve's Ribs theatre festival about domestic violence opened in Saint Petersburg] (in Russian). NEWSru. June 6, 2016. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Меркурьева, Карина (August 8, 2021). "«Нашла утешение и силу». Зачем феминисткам лагерь в Ленобласти" ["Found solace and strength". Why feminists need a camp in Leningrad Oblast] (in Russian). Радио «Свобода». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Гудошников, Семён (November 11, 2019). "Петербургская полиция пообещала каждый день приходить на феминистский фестиваль «Ребра Евы»" [Saint Petersburg police promised to come to the feminist festival Eve's Ribs every day] (in Russian). «Афиша». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Вольтская, Татьяна (November 17, 2019). "В Петербурге полиция семь раз приходила на фестиваль «Рёбра Евы»" [In Saint Petersburg, the police came to Eve's Ribs festival seven times] (in Russian). Радио «Свобода». Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Казьмина, Анастасия (March 16, 2020). "Режиссёру Юлии Цветковой суд изменил меру пресечения" [The court changed the measure of restraint for the theater director Yulia Tsvetkova] (in Russian). «Театр». Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Дорогина Светлана. "Конференция «Почему цветы не растут сквозь асфальт?»" (in Russian). Институт дизайна и фотографии ИГУМО. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "В Петербурге задержали активистку, которую «избили» в знак протеста против отмены закона о побоях" [In St Petersburg, an activist was detained who was “beaten” in protest against the abolition of the law on beatings] (in Russian). «Комсомольская правда». January 29, 2017. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "День защитника Отечества отмечают феминистки, космонавты и «диванные войска»" [Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated by feminists, astronauts and “couch troops”] (in Russian). «Фонтанка.ру». February 23, 2017. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Родина-мать убивала на Марсовом поле" [The Motherland killed on the Champs of Mars] (in Russian). MR-7.ru. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Евгения Зобнина, Антон Желнов (October 2, 2017). "«Вернуть расстрелы, наполнить ГУЛАГи»: как феминистки провели крестное плавание против абортов в Петербурге" ["Bring back firing squads, fill gulags": how feminists held a crusade against abortion in Saint Petersburg] (in Russian). «Дождь». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Петербургские активистки провели акцию «Рожай мясо» против службы в армии. Они принесли к военкомату свертки с сырым мясом" [St Petersburg activists held the action “Give birth to meat” against military service. They brought packages of raw meat to the military registration and enlistment office] (in Russian). «Бумага». February 23, 2019. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "«Скоростной прыжок из п***ы в могилу»: в Петербурге антивоенные активисты отметили 23 февраля" [“A high-speed jump from p***y to the grave”: anti-war activists celebrated February 23 in St Petersburg] (in Russian). Activatica. February 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  14. ^ Arkhipova, A. S.; Radchenko, D. A.; Titkov, A. S.; Kozlova, I. V.; Yugai, E. F.; Belyanin, S. V.; Gavrilova, M. V. (2018). "«Пересборка митинга»: интернет в протесте и протест в интернете" [«Rally rebuild»: Internet in protest and protest on the Internet]. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes (1 (143)): 12–35. doi:10.14515/monitoring.2018.1.02.
  15. ^ "Задержанных на акции феминисток отпустили из полиции без протоколов" [Feminists detained at the rally were released from the police without protocols] (in Russian). «Медиазона». August 3, 2017. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  16. ^ Воронцова, Валентина (May 1, 2019). "Феминисток и активистов задержали перед шествием в Петербурге" [Feminists and activists detained before the march in Saint Petersburg] (in Russian). «Мойка78.ру». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c "Полиция Петербурга задержала координатора проекта «Рёбра Евы»" [Petersburg police detained the coordinator of Eve's Ribs] (in Russian). «Деловой Петербург». May 1, 2022. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Как силовики изобрели и опробовали новый метод давления на активистов — подозрение в лжеминировании. Истории 7 петербуржцев" [How law enforcers invented and tested a new method of pressure on activists - suspicion of pseudomining. Stories of 7 Petersburgers] (in Russian). «Бумага». May 13, 2022. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  19. ^ Волобуева, Маша (August 17, 2017). "В Туапсинском районе задержали организаторов феминистского лагеря и восьмилетнего ребенка" [Organizers of a feminist camp and an eight-year-old child were detained in the Tuapse district] (in Russian). «Юга.ру». Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  20. ^ Куренов, Денис (June 6, 2018). "«Чем феминистки будут вести себя радикальнее, тем больше влияния у них будет». Интервью с Ледой Гариной" [“The more radical feminists become, the more influence they will have.” Interview with Leda Garina] (in Russian). «Юга.ру». Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  21. ^ "Полиция в Петербурге приехала посмотреть, что продается на аукционе в поддержку политзаключенных. Дверь им не открыли" [Police in Saint Petersburg came to see what was being sold at an auction in support of political prisoners. The door was not opened to them] (in Russian). «Фонтанка.ру». June 13, 2021. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Издательство «Все свободны»" [Vse Svobodny publishing house] (in Russian). «Все свободны». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  23. ^ Нимандов, Алексей (February 18, 2019). "Корреспондент «Фонтанки» провел день там, куда не пустили Милонова" [The correspondent of Fontanka spent a day in a place where Milonov was not allowed] (in Russian). «Фонтанка.ру». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  24. ^ Галеева, Венера (February 22, 2019). "Координаторка «Симоны» Леда Гарина: «То, что феминизм упомянули не в негативном контексте, — уже успех»" [“Simone” coordinator Leda Garina: “The fact that feminism was not mentioned in a negative context is already a success.”] (in Russian). «Фонтанка.ру». Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  25. ^ "Мужчины пришли в фем-кафе «Симона» с цветами. Их встретили перцовым баллончиком" [Men came to the feminist cafe "Simona" with flowers. They were met with pepper spray] (in Russian). «Фонтанка.ру». March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "«Учительницу записали в самые опасные люди государства»" ["A teacher made it onto the list of the most dangerous people of the state"] (in Russian). Meduza. December 19, 2020. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  27. ^ Меркурьева, Карина (August 26, 2022). "Дарья Апахончич: «Мы протестовали как могли»" [Daria Apakhonchich: "We protested as best we could"] (in Russian). Радио «Свобода». Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  28. ^ Osborn, Andrew (November 16, 2023). "Russian artist who staged anti-war protest in supermarket jailed for seven years". Reuters. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  29. ^ Bessmertnaya Gelia (September 30, 2022). "The story of Eurydice, the first grassroots initiative against sex trafficking in Russia". Nordic Model Now!. Retrieved December 17, 2023.