Moscow art museum removes painting containing sign that says artist ‘doesn’t want to defeat anybody,’ citing ‘political subtext’

Moscow’s All-Russian Decorative Art Museum has removed a painting by contemporary Russian artist Dmitry Shagin, the founder of the art group Mitki, from its display. The painting shows six people in the blue and white striped shirts traditionally worn by certain Russian military servicemen holding up a sign that reads, “Mitki don’t want to defeat anybody!”

According to museum director Yelena Titova, the piece was removed from its display because it contains a “political subtext.” In a reproduction of the painting that appears on an advertisement for the exhibit, the text in the image has been removed.