Jorit's Artistic Encounters and Controversies: Bridging Cultures and Provoking Debate

The embrace and photo between Jorit and the Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Youth Festival in Sochi sparked quite a controversy. An internationally renowned artist who has traveled the world and brought his works everywhere, Jorit in Russia became the spokesperson of a message that was not positively received by everyone. "President, let's take a photo together to show Italy that you are a human being," he said, confirming that his attempt is to dismantle Western propaganda. His closeness to Russia was also demonstrated in recent times through the choice to create some of his works on Russian territory, conveying very precise messages. The murals made by Jorit in Russia are three, to which is also added one painted in Mariupol during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The work depicts a girl with the colors of the flag of the Donetsk People's Republic in her eyes while, in the background, bombs rain down with "NATO" written on them. After its creation, the artist was involved in a controversy concerning the origins of the portrayed girl. Jorit, in fact, was inspired by a 2018 photo of an Australian girl, betraying the idea of painting something that would tell the story of Ukraine. Realized in Moscow in the Odintsovo district is, instead, the work that portrays Yurij Gagarin. The mural was actually the result of a huge graphic project set up by Russia to re-evaluate the city and make it more modern. Still in Moscow, in 2022, in the midst of the war in Ukraine, Jorit created a mural dedicated to Julian Assange, journalist and co-founder of Wikileaks. The work, with its political overtones, was heavily criticized in the West for the choice to realize it in a country that continues to limit freedom of expression and communication. Last, in chronological order, is the mural dedicated to Ornella Muti inaugurated in Sochi. The work depicts the famous Italian actress, who is also very beloved in Russia. "When I thought of a way to bring Italy and Russia closer together, I thought of the great actress Ornella Muti." The portrait was created as part of a street art project that involved 11 countries. The link between the actress and the country is by blood: Muti, in fact, has Russian origins. Despite being harshly criticized, Jorit tried to bring his message also to Italy, and in particular to Naples. The street artist, in fact, created on the facade of the Technical Institute Righi in Fuorigrotta, the portrait of the writer and philosopher Dostoevsky after the controversy sparked by the suspension of the course dedicated to him at the University of Milan Bicocca. The message launched by Jorit by creating the work was to demonstrate that "only through culture can the causes of wars be understood and peace be built."