The artist, undressed in the Tretyakov Gallery, told about the purpose of the action

Artist Artyom Gavrilyuk-Bozhko (pseudonym Tom Va), who last week held a rally in the Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane, passed through the halls in his underwear, hoping for interaction with the museum.

On the evening of March 20, a man in shorts, covered in golden paint, walked through the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery, in particular, after spending some time at the painting of Mikhail Vrubel "Princess of Dreams". According to the press service of the museum, it was an unauthorized performance by unknown artists. There were no threats to the works of art and visitors during the action, stressed in the museum. Later, the general director of the gallery Zelfira Tregulova said that the artists had left some pictures in the halls.

"Any action, especially one that borders on public space, always reveals any problems or issues that concern society. Modern art now, if not political, then social, intellectual - raises various issues that are then solved. Thinking artists are working on this. It can be anything - security problems, and issues related to contemporary artists, with their influence, with the ability to exhibit, with their integration into the context of the museum space," - said Artem Gavrilyuk-Bozhko.

"But I hope that this will happen. We are in one context, I and the children would like to participate in the cultural life of Moscow, the country. We do a lot of things - festivals, exhibitions, but they are in a different field. No one of such a bright appearance, of course I didn’t expect it. It’s great that now we will have, I hope, the opportunity to develop modern art and support it," - the agency’s source said.

According to him, the artists collectively decided to organize a rally in Lavrushinsky Lane, since it was interesting for them to place contemporary art in a classical environment.

The director of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Marina Loshak, commenting on the action, told reporters that artists should contact the gallery director in advance and explain their concept. In a conversation with the agency Gavrilyuk-Bozhko doubted that they would receive permission to hold the action, and noted that it would not have such an effect and would have been perceived differently if they had planned everything in advance.