A new subway station in Moscow, inspired by Dostoevsky, is being criticized for being “gloomy and depressing” and possibly inciting riders to suicide. The station, Dostoevskaya, contains mosaics of some of the more graphic scenes from the author’s oeuvre, including the moment in Crime and Punishment when Raskolnikov murders the pawnbroker with an ax, as well as a character from The Demons holding a gun to his own head. The artist remains unapologetic: “What did you want? Scenes of dancing? Dostoevsky does not have them.” Fair enough, but Moscow might consider checking in with the artist of the Nabokov station before its completed. [Telegraph UK]
