Yana Payusova

THE REAL UNREAL: MEOW WOLF Installation, 2022-2023

The Kunstkamera store pays homage to the ridiculous post-Soviet-era shops that popped up all over St. Petersburg after the collapse of the Soviet Union. One could find people selling underwear, books, caviar, and toilet paper all in one place. This store however also sells feelings and emotions such as flattery, envy, courage, and ambition by the kilo, as well as a small selection of truths, lies, and secrets a-la-carte. Visitors to the space can view some of the clientele of the shop to the left of the display counter. They can see a woman who literally turned green with envy, a little schoolgirl who bought some spunk, and a tattoo-covered man who bought experience. Visitors can explore all the items on the shelves and are even able to walk around the counter and imagine that they are the ones who are working there. The general feeling is like walking inside a three-dimensional drawing. The sensory input is somewhat overwhelming as there will be very many things to look at. As an artist, I explore the possibilities of visual representation and often play with viewers’ expectations of what is two-dimensional and what is three-dimensional.