Voina - Mordovian Hour

Last year during ADP I did research with a partner on performance artist group Voina (Russian for war), a group known for its politically charged and often very graphic performances. One of the more lighthearted works they did, Mordovian Hour, is one I didn’t get to look at last year, but still an interesting piece nonetheless. It is also one of Voina’s most important pieces in that it is the first piece they performed as a group (May 1st 2007). The piece itself is a protest of McDonalds workers being required to clock in on International Workers’ Day, a day that celebrates the international labor movement. Voina threw live cats over the counter into the kitchen area, to stop the workers from cooking more food, and “to break up the drudgery of workers’ routine day.” Unfortunately, Voina didn’t document this performance as well as it has others, and a few photos are the only evidence to be found.