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Vladislav (Vlad) Mamyshev-Monroe was a prominent Russian performance artist known for his provocative and transformative art. Born in Leningrad in 1969, he became famous for his unique artistic practice of transforming himself into various celebrities and historical figures[1][2][3].
Artistic Style and Significance Mamyshev-Monroe was a pioneering performance artist who challenged identity and celebrity culture through his elaborate transformations. He was particularly renowned for his impersonations of Marilyn Monroe and Soviet actress Lyubov Orlova, often appearing at artistic gatherings in St. Petersburg dressed as these iconic women[1][3]. His work explored the fluidity of identity, with his performances blurring boundaries between reenactment, portraiture, and celebrity culture[1].
Political and Social Activism Beyond his artistic performances, Mamyshev-Monroe was also a notable advocate for gay rights in Russia. In 2010, he was brutally beaten in a homophobic attack and used his platform to speak out against the culture of homophobia in the country. He created provocative art pieces, including a series of portraits of GKChP members with drag makeup, challenging conservative social norms[2].
Artistic Career He emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s during the vibrant Leningrad art scene, collaborating with notable artists like Timur Novikov and Sergey Bugaev-Afrika. He was a pioneer of video art, working on projects like “Pirate TV” and becoming a significant figure in the post-Soviet art world[2].
Tragic Death Mamyshev-Monroe died tragically in 2013 at the age of 43, drowning in a shallow swimming pool while on vacation in Bali. His death sparked speculation, with some of his close friends suggesting it might not have been an accident[2][7].
The Russian and international art community mourned the loss of this extraordinary artist, who was known for his ability to transform and challenge societal norms through his unique performative art[2].
Citations: [1] https://ensembles.org/actors/vladislav-vlad-monroe [2] https://baibakovartprojects.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/in-memory-of-vlad-mamyshev-monroe-1969-2013/ [3] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/08/18/vladislav-mamyshev-monroe-russias-performance-artist-extraordinaire-a74827 [4] https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0752/11/5/87 [5] https://www.artnet.com/artists/vladislav-mamyshev-monroe/ [6] https://artfacts.net/artist/vladislav-mamyshev-monroe/26646 [7] https://sovcom.org.uk/authors/author.php?pl1_id=1654&p_f_2_1=1654&p_f_3_1=1654 [8] https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4280106
(Rus. Влад Мамышев-Монро, born 1969, Leningrad — dead 2013, Bali) Russian artist, performer, laureate of the Kandinsky Prize (2007) in the nomination of the media project of the year [1].
Self-portrait with Mark Almond,
1992 — 1993
Photo: Andrei Pomulev / Facebook
In galeries
| Institution | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Galerie Tretiakov | Moscow | Russia |
| Multimedia Art Museum | Moscow | Russia |
| Musée Russe | Saint-Pétersbourg | Russia |
| Fonds National pour l’Art Contemporain | Paris | France |
| Musée d’art moderne de Moscou | Moscow | Russia |
| Musée d’art contemporain | Moscow | Russia |
| Maison de Photographie de Moscou | Moscow | Russia |
| Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen | Antwerp | Belgium |
| Antwerp Fund New Rules | Antwerp | Belgium |
| Musée royal des beaux-arts | Antwerp | Belgium |
| Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst | Antwerp | Belgium |
See also
Mamyshev-Monroe as Polonium [2]
Photo: Grigoriy Polyakovskiy / Mamm-mdf
