Project Title: "Deprivation Of Moscow: The Scenery of Putin's Charade"
Applicant: RO-MI-OR Progressive Digital Forum nonprofit LLC
Author: "RustyMan"
Requested Amount: EUR 48,500
Implementation Period: 12 months
"Deprivation of Moscow" is a documentary-conceptual photo project about Moscow during a full-scale war (2022–present).
The city is shown as a scenography of ostentatious well-being, hiding spiritual and political exhaustion.
The method is deliberately ascetic: iPhone 8/12, night shooting, publication in Telegram; the originals are deleted, only the Telegram versions remain.
This is digital samizdat and a gesture of impermanence.
Theatrical metaphor: facades, shop windows, empty squares - as decorations for imitation of well-being.
Night optics: shooting exclusively at night in different seasons; excess light versus emptiness.
Ethical minimalism: iPhone, Telegram, deleting sources; refusal to accumulate as a position.
Digital samizdat: low-threshold publication, vulnerable flow as part of the meaning.
Buddhist Philosophy: The deliberate destruction of original photographs mirrors the Buddhist ritual of creating and destroying mandalas, emphasizing the impermanence of reality and rejecting material accumulation.
A New Language of Resistance: Digital samizdat as a continuation of the dissident tradition
Philosophical Depth: Integration of Buddhist concepts of impermanence through the destruction of originals
Technical Minimalism: iPhone photography as a conscious choice against the overproduction of image
Documentary Conceptualism: The project operates at the intersection of document and political manifesto, developing post-Soviet conceptualism for the digital age.
The project addresses universal themes of authoritarianism, urban alienation, and digital resistance, making it relevant to global audiences, particularly in the context of:
Growing authoritarianism worldwide
The role of art in documenting historical turning points
Digital forms of artistic activism
Establishing Shots - Panoramas revealing the full theatrical set
Facade Flats - Building elevations as theatrical constructions
Portals & Openings - Windows, doors, arches as entry/exit frames
Set Dressing & Distress - Details, textures, wear as stage props
Backstage Pockets - Courtyards and service areas as visible machinery
Greens - Landscape elements as theatrical dressing
Months 1-3: Foundation Phase
Complete documentation of remaining photo series
Develop comprehensive digital archive structure
Establish secure backup systems
Months 4-6: Production Phase
Professional digitization and post-processing
Website development and testing
Initial publication materials preparation
Months 7-9: Publication Phase
Launch interactive website platform
Prepare print-on-demand book materials
Develop educational resources
Months 10-12: Dissemination Phase
International promotion and outreach
Academic partnerships establishment
Final documentation and reporting more engaging content.
Cultural Impact: Preservation of critical artistic testimony documenting a pivotal moment in Russian history
Educational Value: Comprehensive resource for studying contemporary authoritarianism and urban resistance
Political Awareness: Increased international understanding of internal opposition within Russia
Historical Record: Permanent archive of visual evidence from inside Putin's regime
Primary: International art community, curators, gallery owners
Secondary: Researchers of contemporary Russia, urbanists, sociologists
Tertiary: General public interested in contemporary art
Author (pseudonym): concept, selection, texts.
Curator/Editor: to be appointed (independent).
Printing: partner lab in the EU.
Administration and storage: RO‑MI‑OR Progressive Digital Forum (EU).
Translation/editing, PR: contractors.
Long-term Preservation: Digital format ensures indefinite accessibility for researchers and educators
Educational Licensing: Materials available to universities and cultural institutions worldwide
Scalable Distribution: Online platform allows unlimited global access
Historical Significance: Documents critical period that will be studied for generations
Partnership with Hungarian NGO provides secure international framework for grant management and fund transfer.
Risk: Author Security
Mitigation: Working through a Facilitator Partner
Risk: Platform Censorship
Mitigation: Multiple Distribution Channels, Decentralized Storage
This is not merely an art project - it is an act of historical preservation under extreme circumstances. The artist risks personal safety daily to document the reality inside Putin's Russia. This grant provides:
Immediate humanitarian support for an artist in crisis
Historical preservation of irreplaceable documentation
International testimony from inside an increasingly closed society
Cultural resistance to authoritarian narrative control
The window for this type of documentation is rapidly closing. This grant could be the difference between preserving this crucial testimony and losing it forever.
LIVING SUPPORT (EUR 36,000)
Monthly subsistence allowance: EUR 3,000 × 12 months = EUR 36,000
Critical for artist survival in high-risk environment
TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT (EUR 10,000)
Professional scanner and backup equipment: EUR 3,000
High-capacity secure storage systems: EUR 2,000
Computer hardware for processing: EUR 3,000
Software licenses (Adobe Creative Suite, etc.): EUR 1,000
Backup devices and security tools: EUR 1,000
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (EUR 2,500)
Legal and accounting services: EUR 1,500
Communication and internet security: EUR 600
Documentation and reporting: EUR 400
Telegram
Professional Portfolio
https://deprivationofm.format.com
IPFS
https://gateway.pinata.cloud/ipfs/bafybeidlhlhsjtlsxr7axgfutqlmakhlhuj7aca24pixszns6zldibfime
Grant Application.pdf
https://mega.nz/file/LM4FCSDA#lMNpVwVWiVnmcAehS2pJSePJ50mdF3DA1DB4yoBisfU