LABYRINTH

In this project, where the evident is elusive. Here, the life-affirming major and the melancholic minor engage in a whispered conversation, leaving viewers to grasp fragments of phrases delicately woven into the layers of shifting shadows on the fabric. These shadows present themselves in subtle shades of gray and blue-green, creating an almost plotless, surrealistic tableau.

The segmentation within the artwork mirrors the discreteness and fragmentation of our own memories, guiding our gaze so we don't lose our way. Simple rectangular forms interact with the curved contours of silhouettes—copied, by the way, from the artist's own experiences—of potted plants that have migrated from the artist's late and post-Soviet apartment to public windowsills.

The artist seems to pluck these elements from the depths of our collective memory. They serve as a reminder that, at one time, a bed, curtains, a balcony, a grandmother's garden, and the warm glow of a lantern existed for each child, all with a single purpose—to watch the creeping shadows on the walls and to create new, delightfully eerie worlds.

Anna intertwines spatial and temporal coordinates, layering recognizable elements from various cultural codes. In the foreground, you might notice a spontaneous resonance with Japanese minimalism, with its beauty found in unassuming simplicity and natural textures. Further on, a distinctly Russian essence merges seamlessly with Scandinavian influences: everyday wooden slats from an Ikea set embrace unadorned linen. This eclectic fusion engages in a dialogue with fleeting memories, punctuated by bursts of color. As time passes, these memories fade, yet the artist preserves them within frames, fearing their ultimate disappearance.

Here, you won't find straightforward narratives or complete wholes—only fractures and fractures of light. Much like Homer's "Iliad," the "Labyrinth" on display both captivates and unsettles. Within its labyrinthine paths, you won't find rigidity, gender distinctions, or full clarity. Instead, it explores the principles of metamodernism—a realm where boundaries blur, and differences emerge more distinctly in low contrasts.

text by Alena Dyatko