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The title of this painting refers to the traditional Russian saying “until the thunder sounds, the man won’t cross himself.” It means that people do not realize they are in danger and must take precautions until it might be too late. The portrayal of a cartoonish Gorbachev on a stage with curtains refers to the August 1991 coup that endeavored to oust him from power, hinting that Gorbachev should have seen it coming. The State Emergency Committee led by hard-line Communist Party members attempted to overtake the Kremlin while Gorbachev was far away from his post, vacationing in Foros in the Crimea. In this artwork, Gorbachev is portrayed as a figurehead ruler, losing his grip on the staff that holds the Soviet emblem while his crown is tumbling to the ground. Lightning in the form of the letters GKChP, the acronym of the State Emergency Committee (in Russian), is striking Gorbachev right on his famous birthmark.
Mikhail Rozhdestvin, Until the Thunder Sounds…, 1991
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Gorbachev is depicted floating away as the Soviet Union falls apart beneath him. Rezaev portrays him as a sham who made empty promises, as indicated by balloons labeled “reform” and “reconstruction.” Gorbachev’s suitcase features stickers of various flags, showing him as a sell-out to foreign countries.
Alexei Rezaev, Inflated Reformer, 1992
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Gorbachev is depicted as the king of clubs, wearing a sketched gold crown with stars at its peaks. The title of the work, Alternative, refers to the two apparent alternatives in the painting that are essentially identical. Gorbachev attempted to provide an alternative to the authoritarian style of Communist rule practiced by his predecessors, but the policies failed to create real changes. According to Sukharev, his policies simply represented the other side of the same card.
Sergei Sukharev, Alternative, 1990
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