Everywhere Order Prevails/The Revolution Does Not Develop Evenly: The Eternal Return of Lady R

“Order prevails in Warsaw!”

“Order prevails in Paris!”

“Order prevails in Berlin!”

The revolution does not develop evenly of its own volition, in a clear field of battle, according to a cunning plan devised by clever “strategists.”

Do you understand?

Because of the contradiction in the early stages of the revolutionary process between the task being sharply posed and the absence of any preconditions to resolve it, individual battles of the revolution end in formal defeat.

You don’t understand, eh?

But revolution is the only form of “war” – and this is another peculiar law of history – in which the ultimate victory can be prepared only by a series of “defeats.” What does the entire history of all modern revolutions show us?

The first spark of class struggle in Europe, the revolt of the silk weavers in Lyon in 1831, ended with a heavy defeat; the Chartist movement in Britain ended in defeat; the uprising of the Parisian proletariat in the June days of 1848 ended with a crushing defeat; and the Paris commune ended with a terrible defeat.

The whole road of revolutionary struggles is paved with nothing but thunderous defeats.

Yet, at the same time, history marches inexorably, step by step, toward final victory!

Where would we be today without those “defeats”?

Where would we be today without those “defeats”?

Where would we be today without those “defeats”?

Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where?

“Order prevails in Athens!”

“Order prevails in Kassel!”

“Order prevails in Columbus, Ohio!”

You foolish lackeys! Your “order” is built on sand.

Lady R performance – April 10 & May 26, 2017

Avdi Square, Athens

Inspired by the last speech of Rosa Luxemburg, Lady R takes place in the context of the public art project Monument to Revolution by Sanja Iveković.

Created by Sofia Mavragani, performed by Chara Kotsali, original music of Martha Mavroidi

“Indeed, I was moved by many of the artworks presented in documenta 14 and by their relation to each other within the context of the exhibition. And that is the effect of intelligent curating by the artistic team. There were many works of genius but it still gives me goosebumps  to watch the Lady R. performance, based on the last letter by Rosa Luxemburg, an artwork of Sophia Mavragani performed by Chara Kotsali.”

– Dimitris Athiridis in Dana Knight ‘DocLisboa Interview: “exergue” – on documenta 14’ (2024)

Still, audio & English translation from Exergue: on documenta 14 (2023) by Dimitris Athiridis, from Chapter 12: Soft Power.