The work of Belarusian artist Elena Rabkina is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Croatia. What is the work about — and how did it get there?
The work of Belarusian artist Elena Rabkina is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Croatia. What is the work about — and how did it get there?
News | 27.05.2025
On May 8, the Art of Resistance exhibition opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb. Among the participants is Belarusian artist Elena Rabkina, founder of the cultural organization ARSIF. We spoke with the artist about her work and the exhibition, which remains open to the public until the end of June.
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The Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb (Muzej suvremene umjetnosti, MSU) serves as the venue for presenting the outcomes of the international Arts of Resistance project — a months-long artistic and research laboratory dedicated to the themes of anti-fascism and resistance. The exhibition, titled Umjetnost otpora, features works by young artists from various countries, including Belarusian Elena Rabkina.
Rabkina’s piece, The Second Stone, was created in 2025 using glass, metal, and stone. The work explores the mechanisms of escalating violence and hatred, drawing on the "broken windows theory." The artist invites viewers to reflect: at what point do we ourselves become complicit?
“This piece is the result of an eight-month artistic research lab. That experience allowed me to look more deeply into the current political situation and exchange views with other artists,” Rabkina says. “During the lab, I developed several concepts, but in the end I chose this one, because to me, it most accurately reflects our time — with the rise of far-right movements, and from my personal perspective as a migrant and a member of a vulnerable group.”
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb (Muzej suvremene umjetnosti, MSU) serves as the venue for presenting the outcomes of the international Arts of Resistance project — a months-long artistic and research laboratory dedicated to the themes of anti-fascism and resistance. The exhibition, titled Umjetnost otpora, features works by young artists from various countries, including Belarusian Elena Rabkina.
Rabkina’s piece, The Second Stone, was created in 2025 using glass, metal, and stone. The work explores the mechanisms of escalating violence and hatred, drawing on the "broken windows theory." The artist invites viewers to reflect: at what point do we ourselves become complicit?
“This piece is the result of an eight-month artistic research lab. That experience allowed me to look more deeply into the current political situation and exchange views with other artists,” Rabkina says. “During the lab, I developed several concepts, but in the end I chose this one, because to me, it most accurately reflects our time — with the rise of far-right movements, and from my personal perspective as a migrant and a member of a vulnerable group.”
Elena Rabkina / «The Second Stone» / glass, metal, stone / 2025. Photo from the Art of Resistance exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, Croatia (MSU)
She emphasizes that the concept of the work arose from personal experience and her search for a meaningful form of resistance.
“We become easy targets, and the level of tolerance for hate is clearly visible. The only viable path I saw was to create awareness — to try to convey a sense of reality to viewers and draw their attention to what is happening,” the artist explains.
For Rabkina, participating in the MSU exhibition marks an important step in her professional career. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb is one of the largest cultural institutions in Croatia.
“Having the opportunity to exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb has been an incredible experience — especially because I found myself among other artists with truly powerful works. We were able to unite our voices and create a shared impulse in response to today’s complex political reality,” she notes.
The Art of Resistance exhibition will remain open to visitors until June 21, 2025.
Усе матэрыялы ўзяты з асабістых архіваў мастачкі.
Перадрук матэрыялу або фрагментаў матэрыялу магчымы толькі з пісьмовага дазволу рэдакцыі.
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Усе матэрыялы ўзяты з асабістых архіваў мастачкі.
Перадрук матэрыялу або фрагментаў матэрыялу магчымы толькі з пісьмовага дазволу рэдакцыі.
Калі вы заўважылі памылку ці жадаеце прапанаваць дадатак да апублікаваных матэрыялаў, просім паведаміць нам.
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