Artwork
Milit. Fleet
Milit. Fleet is a print by Olga Florenskaya. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Milit.
About this work
It’s part of ‘Russian Trophy’, a 2002 project by Olga Florenskaya and her husband.
This set of prints shows made-up military gear. It’s part of ‘Russian Trophy’, a 2002 project by Olga Florenskaya and her husband. The prints mix satire with handmade war machines and silly flags.
The fun part? The flags pretend to mock real rivals, but the names hide them. You’ll see titles like ‘North-Western Enemy’ and ‘Military Therapy Troops’.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the full set.
Overview
Milit. Fleet is a set of prints from the 'Russian Trophy' project, a multi-disciplinary work by Olga Florenskaya and Alexander Florensky created in 2002. The prints are part of a larger collection of objects and artworks presented as if from a fictional military museum.
Subject & Meaning
The prints depict imaginary military equipment and flags, satirizing the militaristic culture of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. The flags allude to historical enemies, but with veiled references, such as 'North-Western Enemy' and 'Eastern Enemy', while others are comically absurd, like 'Subaquatic Swimming Troops'.
Technique & Style
The prints are presented in a wooden box with a stenciled title on the lid, resembling a crate of military supplies. This packaging adds to the satirical presentation of the artworks as 'trophies' from a fictional battlefield.
Context
The 'Russian Trophy' project engages with themes of xenophobia and the fortress mentality associated with Russian and Soviet militarism, using humor and absurdity to critique these tendencies.
Artist & collection
Artist
Olga Florenskaya’s prints from 2002 turn Cold War fears into bold, graphic shapes.
