Nadezhda Tolokonnikova Instagram – This art is a hammer that shapes reality. 2023, series of 23 works. “Humor was another of the soul’s weapons in the fight for self-preservation. It is well known that humor can afford an aloofness and an ability to rise above any situation, even if only for a few seconds” – Viktor Frankl, Man’s search for meaning. I incorporate needles and sewing machine parts – they represent my experiences of forced labor in the camp. During that time, I would have dreams of receiving new sets of needles and machine parts, only to wake up to the harsh reality of continuing to sew on old, unsafe equipment. I endured injuries and excruciating pain while sewing, including a traumatic incident where a needle penetrated my finger and caused profuse bleeding, yet I was compelled to persist without proper medical care. The use of red splashes in my artwork represents the blood that stained my worktable at the factory. I incorporate teddy bears into my work, penetrating them with needles and presenting them as worn and dirty. The teddy bears encapsulate the innocence and vulnerability I once possessed, now marred and broken by the oppressive forces at play.