Pastel recently spent some time in Ukraine where he just finished working on a brand new piece somewhere on the streets of Kiev.
This piece is based on the history of the Makhnovist movement during the 1917 Russian Revolution. The revolution in Ukraine was a libertarian revolution, and the workers and peasants (Black Army) were fighting both Tsarist reaction and Bolshevik domination.
In February 1917, there was a Popular uprising in the Russian empire. The Tsar abdicated the principal political parties – most of them Socialist, and began to set up a crude parliamentary democracy, led by the Mensheviks. However Russia was a big, bleak, backward old empire that sprawled across five time zones, communication was bad; the uprisings continued. Radicals were released from prison, dissidents returned from exile, and ordinary people became increasingly aware of the possibilities of communal power. Peasants chased out the landowners, workers took over the factories and many organized themselves democratically through local mass meetings – Soviets.
“We have all flirted with freedom and, deep inside all of us have the urge to make it a serious relationship. The Anarchist values of individual freedom, grass roots democracy, and the decentralisation of ALL forms of power are, if anything, more pertinent today then over. See you on the barricades.” Tony Allen
Take a look at more images after the break and keep checking back with us soon for more mural updates from the streets of Kiev.
comment