The West branded Viktor Bout as the ‘Merchant of Death’ and ‘Lord of War’. His image as a terrifying Russian arms dealer, which was shaped by American authorities, even inspired a Hollywood movie.
US officials accused Bout of plotting to sell weapons to terrorists – who turned out to be undercover agents posing as rebels who were planning to attack Americans. In 2012, he was sentenced to 25 years in a US prison. In 2022, he returned to Russia in a prisoner exchange for American basketball player Brittney Griner.
This film tells Viktor Bout’s story through his paintings and personal belongings, presented in the exhibition ‘Thin Line of My Native Shore’. He began drawing while in solitary confinement, learning painting techniques from books. In total, he created around 300 works while in prison – many of which were lost or damaged by guards. Forty pieces remain and now form the heart of the exhibition.
The exhibition also features items from his time in prison: books written about him, language textbooks, and letters and postcards filled with words of support. One item holds particular meaning – a Russian language textbook for foreigners, which Bout used to teach fellow inmates. Today, he speaks 11 languages, most of which he learned while incarcerated.
