The exhibition “Punk culture. The King and the Jester” at the Winzavod Contemporary Art Center has been extended with new dates through July 20, inviting visitors to explore a carefully curated journey through the roots and evolution of punk aesthetics. A fresh batch of tickets with an open date appeared on socialbites.ca, published by the Yandex Afisha press service on May 23, signaling growing demand from fans and curious newcomers alike.
The show unfolds in two movements, tracing the global arc of punk alongside its Soviet counterpoint. Visitors meet the iconic international figures such as the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, and The Stooges, alongside pivotal Soviet groups that shaped the local scene through grit and rebellion. The Soviet segment places particular emphasis on bands like Civil Defense, KINO, and NAIV, with a dedicated focus on the formation and impact of the late era’s homegrown sound. The spotlight on the group Korol i Shut anchors the Russian thread, offering a window into how punk language morphed in a different cultural climate. The upcoming run also highlights a collaboration with the Petersburg collective that influenced the visual and sonic texture of the era. As the season approaches summer, the program adds a screening from the film collection, echoing the historical mood while presenting a modern reinterpretation of the period in a cinema setting.
Alongside the exhibition, organizers have created a punk themed dining experience that invites visitors to explore a playful menu inspired by the era. The offerings include a chicken and mushroom quiche, cakes with condensed milk, jam or chocolate sauce, and a dessert described as punk cotta. The culinary installation serves as a sensory complement to the artifacts and performances, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the era through taste as well as sound and image. At the moment, this fair is positioned as a standout in its segment, drawing strong attendance and earning a place among the top events of the year. The Winzavod venue has welcomed more than 80,000 visitors to date, and figures continue to climb as more people discover the exhibition. Early May ticket sales suggested a broad audience footprint, with a substantial share of the audience being new to the space and drawn by the provocative combination of music history and visual culture. The organizers emphasized that the city’s visitors and guests were central to the exhibition’s reception, underscoring the project as a citywide cultural moment.
In related notes, a previous report mentioned a theft incident involving a vest worn by Andrei Knyazev during a prior exhibition run. Investigations identified the offender, a soloist from the band Metal Corrosion, as the person responsible. The incident did not deter the broader audience, and security measures were reviewed to ensure smoother access for future visitors who come looking for the raw energy and archival detail that define this punk exploration.