Streaming Nation

In a country rife with political conflicts, where the state has been failing its citizens over and over again, the position of the media in Russia is precarious to say the least. As a result, most Russians now have little faith in traditional TV or radio stations. They shrug off the propaganda and the one-sided reporting on the situation in the Ukraine, items on Putin’s daily schedule, and the tackling of insurgents from the Caucasus. Instead, increasing numbers of Russians are turning to the Internet for their news, or choose to source the news themselves in the form of streaming video. In five chapters presented on four screens, the video installation reveals the many different points of view to which contemporary Russians must resort – the video material included here is sourced from alternative news services and citizen journalists. Take for example the webcams many Russian drivers use to film from behind their windshields for insurance purposes. In addition to recording accidents, these cameras catch everything that happens along the way – including some pretty unusual events. is a summary of the varied and often conflicting perspectives on reality bubbling under the surface of the official media.