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Petr Pavlensky is one of the most prominent Russian protest artists of the moment.

The “living-pain” activist is renowned for his series of wince-inducing performances: he severed his right earlobe on the roof Moscow’s Serbsky psychiatric centre to protest against Russia’s use of forced psychiatry against dissidents; he sewed his mouth shut to support Pussy Riot; wrapped himself naked in barbed wire and nailed his scrotum to the floor of the Red Square.

He has described his protests as statements against the system, saying they are designed the challenge the apathy of Russian public.

Petr Pavlensky on the fence of the Institute of Psychiatry. Serbian in Moscow during the campaign “Office”. Photograph: Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters

His stunts have prompted Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova to describe him as an “artist for this period of disillusionment. He is grim, disciplined, focused, and ready for pain”.



Moscow’s Garage Museum of Contemporary Art recently included him in the final chapter of their show exploring 100 years of Russian performance art: “the most provocative and radical art form”, according to the show’s curator.

Any questions?

Petr will join us for a live Q&A on Wednesday 11 June, 12.30 – 2pm Moscow time, 10.30 – 12pm London, on the history of Russian protest art. We’ll be posting his responses simultaneously in English and Russian.

Use the comments below to post your questions in English, to post a question in Russian email us at: moscow.week@theguardian.com, using Petr Pavlensky in the subject line.



Alternatively, you can tweet your questions at @GuardianNewEast using #GuardianMoscow