Before you is a bicycle—more precisely, what was once a bicycle.

The function of a bicycle is to move forward and carry people. Ideally, it should do this safely and predictably, periodically incorporating new features into the old design. Over time, bicycles have been equipped with round wheels, seats, gear shifts, brakes, lights, fenders, bells, and so on.

Now imagine that the bicycle represents an abstract state.

The bicycle in front of you is a metaphor for modern Russia. It has wheels shaped like the symbol of the invasion of Ukraine—the letter Z. Physically, these wheels are incapable of moving the bicycle forward. If you try to spin them, they will break. The Z-wheels are a hastily assembled construct, held together by "good faith" (or, in the case of art, by tape).

The bicycle appears to be ornately painted, but only on one side. As always in Russia, where the grass is painted for distinguished guests, this is only a beautiful façade.

It is a bicycle with malfunctioning brakes, a broken seat, non-working lights, and a cargo of problems. It even lacks the rear wheel's tread, which is necessary to prevent soiling the cargo.

Thus, like the invasion itself, the bicycle named the Russian Federation of 2024 is doomed. Unfortunately, all its passengers are doomed as well.

P.S. Like all things Russian, the bicycle is subject to "civilized corruption," and after one of the exhibitions, part of its wheel was stolen.

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