Madness, Dissidence and Transduction

Russian dissident artist Pyotr Pavlensky employs transduction as a deliberate strategy to impart meaning to his provocative political art, challenging both Russian authorities and international avant-garde discourse. His works, including self-mutilation acts and symbolic gestures in public spaces like Red Square and the Serbsky Psychiatric Hospital, defy attempts by authorities to label him criminally insane while asserting their artistic intent. Pavlensky's approach involves invoking two interpretive frameworks: the Russian Criminal Code, used by authorities for control, and global avant-garde art discourse. This study highlights how his transgressive actions transcend legal and cultural boundaries, redefining dissent through radical performance art.

Walker, C. S. (2017). Madness, Dissidence and Transduction. Palabra Clave - Revista de Comunicación, 20(3), 686–701. https://doi.org/10.5294/pacla.2017.20.3.5