The project “To Russia with Love” emerged from the realization that the real moral imperative is not to remain passive in the face of hatred and injustice. That’s how a group of Montreal artists and collaborators came together with photographer Damian Siqueiros to make a stand against the recent wave of institutionalized homophobia and the ruthless violence that exists in Russia towards our gender diverse brothers and sisters. “To Russia with Love” portrays iconic and historically relevant gay and lesbian Russians with their respective partners, starting from the 19th century to our time. The project features Pyotr Tchaikovsky (composer) and his long time companion Aleksey Sofronov; Anna Yevreinova and Maria Feodorova (renowned lawyer and writer respectively from the 19 century); Sergei Diaghilev (founder of the Ballets Russes in Paris) and Vaslav Nijinsky; a contemporary fictional lesbian couple made of a police woman and an Olympic athlete; and lastly a male couple impersonating Stalin and Putin.

Writer Ivan Savvine will speak about the photographs and soprano Tatiana Poletskaya will sing from Tchaikovsky’s repertoire.

Suggested donation of $5 to benefit the Bureau. No one turned away for lack of funds.    

Damian Siqueiros’s photographs will remain on display at the Bureau on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday October 4.

Damian Siqueiros is a Mexican / Quebecer photographer and multidisciplinary artist. The construction of our gender identity has a central role in his artistic research. Through the images he underlines the importance of equality between the sexes and respect for diversity. The creation of the photographs draws inspiration from the great masters of painting to add an historical perspective to these contemporary topics. Dance and movement are key elements to explore gender as performative experience.

His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout North America and Europe, such as the Art Museum of the Americas, the MOLA and the Gabarron foundation. Damian has received numerous prizes and grants, notably the Prix Coup de Coeur Scotia Bank in 2010. The photographer is most proud of his collaborations with great artists such as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Margie Gillis, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Cas Public.