‘No’: Meduza’s new art exhibition in Berlin A tribute to those who have the courage to resist

From April 26 to July 6, the Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien gallery in Berlin will host “No,” an exhibition curated and organized by Meduza’s newsroom. This project brings together artists and journalists to reflect on the events of the past decade and explore why the world has become so fractured. The exhibition shares the stories of ordinary people caught in unbearable situations, yet determined to remain true to themselves — hence its title. “No” stands as a symbol of resistance and a tribute to those who, against all odds, continue to say “no.”

Admission is free. If you’re in Berlin or planning to visit during the exhibition, be sure to follow us on Instagram.

What led Meduza to create an art exhibition?

In 2024, Meduza’s newsroom turned 10. A few months before this anniversary, our team started thinking about how to mark the occasion. Celebrating anything against the backdrop of the ongoing horrors in the world didn’t feel right — especially given that Meduza itself has been teetering on the edge of survival since being labeled a “foreign agent” in 2021. So, we decided to create something entirely new — a project that would help us find the right language to talk about our profession and the era we’re living in. That’s how the idea for an exhibition combining contemporary art and documentary storytelling was born.

“No” reflects on how the world has changed over the decade Meduza has been reporting on it. Many feel that the world has fractured in these years. Some have described it as a “polycrisis.” The depth of this crisis becomes clear when you look at the stories of individuals caught in these historic events — stories that often end in tragedy.

The exhibition’s curators reviewed 10 years of Meduza headlines and identified key themes that have defined this era: dictatorship, censorship, exile, war, resistance, fear, loneliness, polarization, and hope. We then invited artists to interpret these themes through their work — and asked Meduza’s journalists to reflect on them through their own experiences.

Our journalists on the ground take risks to keep you informed about changes in Russia during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Support Meduza’s work today.

What artists will be featured?

The exhibition features 13 artists, not only from Russia, though Russia is well represented. Here’s a preview of what will be on display:

• Feeling Defensive, a video work by Finnish artist Pilvi Takala, documenting her experience in the National Defense Course — a popular multi-week training program run by the Finnish Defense Forces for civilians. Takala explores the quiet militarization of a society that cannot ignore Russia’s threat.
• Paintings from the series Primer by Pavel Otdelnov, inspired by a Soviet ABC book. He replaces the typical words that accompany each letter, illustrating terms like “radiation” and “toy soldiers” instead.
• A mural by the Danish artist collective SUPERFLEX that takes on new meanings in each translation. The phrase “All Data To The People,” translated into Russian, is painted over but still legible — a visual metaphor for censorship.

In addition, there will be sculptures by Sergei Prokofiev and Fernando Sanchez Castillo, installations by Stine Marie Jacobsen, Teobaldo Lagos Preller, and Gülsün Karamustafa, photographs by Alexander Gronsky, and works by Alisa Yoffe, Cristina Lucas, and Semyon Khanin.

What else will be there?

The second half of the exhibition is a documentary project by playwright Mikhail Durnenkov. We invited him to avoid just having journalists interview other journalists and to offer an outsider’s perspective on Meduza’s story. Durnenkov created a series of video portraits of Meduza journalists and people who have collaborated with us before.

The project will include interviews with journalists Elena Kostyuchenko, Lilia Yapparova, and Taisia Bekbulatova (about reporting on the war); film critic Anton Dolin (on Russian cinema since February 24 and his experience of emigration), and Meduza publisher Galina Timchenko (on the return of censorship in Russia). You’ll also hear stories from writer Zhenia Berezhna, photographer Alexander Gronsky, Meduza editor-in-chief Ivan Kolpakov, journalist Svetlana Reiter, Meduza tech department head Alex, and other members of our team.

Where’s it all happening?

At Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, Berlin — one of the city’s most uncompromising art spaces. In the 1970s, it gave a platform to immigrant artists, challenging the city’s discriminatory policies. In the 2000s, its curators faced harassment over a project that explored sexuality.

How can I stay informed?

You’ll find some coverage on Meduza’s website, but we won’t overwhelm readers with announcements. If you want to learn more about the project, here’s what we recommend:

• Follow the exhibition’s Instagram account — it will serve as a dedicated platform for the project.
• Browse the website: we’ll soon start posting interviews with artists, photos of their work, monologues from journalists, and nine essays on the project’s central themes. All of these materials will also be available in a book we’re publishing for the exhibition’s opening. Both the book and the website will serve as complete guides to the exhibition.
• Living in Berlin or nearby? Join us for our offline events! Many of them will be accessible only with prior registration, so once again, we recommend following our Instagram to make sure you don’t miss anything.