Yana Payusova

THE REAL UNREAL: MEOW WOLF Installation, 2022-2023

Kunstkamera is a large-scale sculptural installation that pays homage to the absurdity of post-Soviet-era shops that emerged across St. Petersburg after the collapse of the USSR. These improvised stores sold an improbable mix of items—underwear, books, caviar, and toilet paper—all under one roof. In this surreal iteration, however, the shop also offers emotions and abstract concepts for sale: flattery, envy, courage, and ambition by the kilo, alongside a curated selection of truths, lies, and secrets à la carte.

Viewers encounter a cast of curious clientele to the left of the display counter, including a woman who has literally turned green with envy, a schoolgirl who purchased a dose of spunk, and a tattooed man who traded for experience. The installation invites visitors to explore the densely stocked shelves and even step behind the counter, blurring the boundary between viewer and participant. The experience is immersive and visually overwhelming—like stepping into a three-dimensional drawing.

Through Kunstkamera, I continue to investigate the boundaries of visual representation, using humor, materiality, and narrative to unsettle distinctions between two-dimensional illusion and sculptural reality.

The installation is permanently housed at Meow Wolf’s The Real Unreal in Grapevine, Texas, and has been on view since 2023. It has been experienced by over a million visitors to date.