June 07, 2023

War and Beef


War and Beef
Sculpture of a soldier made out of ground pork meat. sen_i_n, Instagram.

Images of sculptures of soldiers and tanks carved from ground pork began circulating after the St. Peterburg publication Bumaga issued an interview with the author of meaty pieces.

Andrey Senin is a relatively unknown anti-war artist from Veliky Novgorod whose Instagram account shares his drawings, sculptures, and street art. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Senin began posting art criticizing President Vladimir Putin and censorship in Russia. His painting "Fly Me to the Moon" riffed on the Russian president's control over the authoritarian Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. It features Kadyrov surfing a wave of buildings pulled by a moon with Putin's face.

The Head of the Chechen Republic riding a wave being pulled by a moon with President Putin's face.
The Head of the Chechen Republic, riding a wave pulled by a moon with President Putin's face. / sen_i_n, Instagram.

But what caught Bumaga's attention was the artist's latest work, a series of sculptures called "Russian Ground Meat." Senin posted a picture of a tank made from ground pork and epoxy on May 9, also known as Victory Day in Russia. The date is especially significant, since this is the day that Russia celebrates the Soviet Union's triumph over Germany in World War II with parades of soldiers and missiles. Later, Senin shared a photo of his sculpture of a ground pork soldier alongside a reflection about those who support Russia's invasion of Ukraine: "When will they realize that in these wars they are just [meat] stuffing?" The sculptor told Bumaga that the minced meat represented the Russian government viewing its people as a consumable, while also portraying the fate of those sent to the front.

When asked by Bumaga if he was afraid of being arrested for his work, Senin responded: "I understand that I could have risks in that regard. But I also don't see the possibility of not speaking up. That's why I continue to work."

More of Andrey Senin's work can be found here.

You Might Also Like

Facts and Figures
  • May 29, 2023

Facts and Figures

Another statistical look at the impact of Russia's War on Ukraine.
Dance Floor Dissent
  • May 26, 2023

Dance Floor Dissent

A video of people singing pro-Ukraine lyrics prompted government intervention.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Marooned in Moscow
May 01, 2011

Marooned in Moscow

This gripping autobiography plays out against the backdrop of Russia's bloody Civil War, and was one of the first Western eyewitness accounts of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Marooned in Moscow provides a fascinating account of one woman's entry into war-torn Russia in early 1920, first-person impressions of many in the top Soviet leadership, and accounts of the author's increasingly dangerous work as a journalist and spy, to say nothing of her work on behalf of prisoners, her two arrests, and her eventual ten-month-long imprisonment, including in the infamous Lubyanka prison. It is a veritable encyclopedia of life in Russia in the early 1920s.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955