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AN OXFORDSHIRE church’s art installation has become a focus for people wishing to pay tribute to Russian political prisoner Alexei Navalny.
Visitors to the Dorchester Abbey exhibition are invited to experience just three minutes of Mr Navalny’s 28 year sentence in a cramped Siberian cell.
The opposition leader and lawyer was sentenced in January 2021 to solitary confinement and hard labour for opposing corruption in the government of Vladimir Putin.
He was being held at a remote Siberian penal colony when his death was announced on February 16.
Steph Forman, events coordinator at Dorchester Abbey, said: “The artwork has been planned for a while, and it has been a strange journey.
“It was originally conceived when Alexei Navalny was sentenced, then as it was being constructed in the church he was sent to the Arctic Circle, and now he has died.”
What began as a thoughtful reflection on the fate of those imprisoned for their beliefs has become a shrine to Mr Navalny.
“People are bringing flowers and cards, and other artists have been sending artwork to add to the installation,” said Ms Forman.
“It’s incredibly powerful.”
Dorchester Abbey’s exhibition, titled simply, CELL, was created by Dorchester artist Adrian Brooks, and co-artist Tim Cook.
Mr Brooks designed the concept, and painted the installation.
Mr Cook built the structure and composed three minutes of music which visitors can listen to while they are ‘imprisoned’.
The work was installed as part of the church’s Lent reflections, to show examples of people who have been sustained by faith, hope and love in the face of adversity.
Outside, it features portraits of men and women, including Alexei Navalny, who, as prisoners of conscience, have been incarcerated, and sometimes executed, in the cause of human freedom and dignity.
Inside is a life-sized three metre by two metre reconstruction of the prison in which Mr Navalny was held.
Visitors are invited to step inside to experience three minutes, or a five millionth, of his sentence.
An hourglass inside can be set to mark the time.
Team Rector at Dorchester Abbey, the Revd Jane Willis said: “To spend three minutes in that cell with the timer going is an invitation to all of us to contemplate how we spend the time that has been gifted to us.
“As with our Last Supper installation, we are pleased to be able to host pieces of art that encourage people to engage more deeply with faith.”
Since the announcement of Alexei Navalny’s death, the artwork’s significance has increased, becoming a focus for those in and around Oxfordshire wishing to pay tribute to him.
Ms Forman continued: “There are lots of people coming, a steady stream of them, and of all ages.
“There isn’t a moment when no-one is there, at one point 10 people were waiting to enter the cell.”
For centuries people have come to to Dorchester Abbey to visit the shrine of St Birinus, Dorchester’s first bishop.
Now they are travelling to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny.
“It’s touching that a tiny church in Oxfordshire is drawing people here, to do exactly the same thing that Russians are doing far away, laying flowers and paying respects,” continued Ms Forman.
“It feels like we’re somehow holding hands across the miles.”
The exhibition is open to visitors at The Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul, Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire.
It was due to end this week, but has been extended until Tuesday, March 12.
Entry is free, and people can visit during daylight hours.
“We’re open from dawn to dusk,” said Ms Forman.
“And there are prayers for people if they want them, as well as candles.”
For more information, visit: www.oxford.anglican.org
