After successful runs in Madrid, London, and Oslo, the highly anticipated art exhibition Brainwashing Machine—which explores propaganda techniques using contemporary Russia as a case study—is set to open on March 14 at the Artten art gallery.

Renowned artists from around the world will engage in the 'brainwashing' of visitors through a variety of mediums, including painting, graphics, embroidery, ceramics, installation, animation, and digital art. Visitors will enter a giant 'washing machine' with settings analogous to a real laundry: pre-wash, main wash, rinse, spin and dry. The exhibition space is divided into several interconnected zones, each demonstrating how human beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors can be manipulated against their will. The exhibition is organized by the creative group Anónimo, some of whose members prefer to remain anonymous but do not conceal their Russian origins.​

Some of the featured artists have faced severe repercussions for their anti-government messages. Their work highlights the personal risks and sacrifices involved in creating art that defies propaganda, making the exhibition a powerful statement on the role of art as resistance. One of the highlights is Sh(o)ut, a painting by Sasha Skochilenko, a Russian artist recently released from prison in a prisoner swap between Russia and the West.

A Thought-Provoking Experience

More than just an artistic exploration, Brainwashing Machine is a deeply thought-provoking experience. It invites audiences to reflect on the impact of an oppressive regime and to understand the lived realities of many in Russia—a country just across the Baltic Sea from Sweden, with which Sweden shares deep cultural ties but which is becoming increasingly isolated from the world.*