A hand sewn flag from the project Speech(less)

The flag features words written by someone on a bench:

"You can't remain on the sidelines. Write, speak, don't be silent about the war."

The work is inspired by the photo the artists saw in an article about the fate of opposition activists in Russia (photo: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Scanpic/LETA).

The project Speech(less) deals with freedom of speech during wartime and is dedicated to brave individuals who are persecuted in Russia for daring to speak the truth and stand against the war. The artists have chosen flags as their main artistic medium. Flags represent places, nations, and ideas. They communicate both literally (using semaphores) and symbolically, serving as a vivid, clear and accessible means of attracting attention and expressing support. The flags featuring anti-war messages, quotes and portraits of Russian political prisoners are now hanging in the windows of friends in London who share the group's anti-war stance.