Concept & Design Thinking

"Like a Parajanov film — inviting careful, curious contemplation."

The concept for Inna Olevskaya's exhibition catalogue at the Hermitage arose from a specific request from the artist herself: the publication should reflect the poetic and contemplative spirit of Sergei Parajanov's films. It should invite the viewer to explore slowly and with curiosity, appreciating every detail of her exquisite porcelain art.

Rejecting traditional art catalogue conventions, we have deliberately placed all the formal and academic information — lists, dimensions, dates — at the end, isolated from the visual narrative. The main body of the book thus becomes purely visual, dedicated to elegantly captured photographs of Olevskaya's porcelain sculptures and delicate fragments of her work. The absence of captions and even page numbering throughout this visual section ensures that the viewer is fully immersed in the beauty and depth of each creation without distraction.

The binding design of the catalogue reflects the purity and refinement inherent in the art of porcelain. It is finished in matte white, representing both the elegance and restraint of Olevskaya's artistic approach. The artist's handwritten signature adorns the front cover, creating a subtle yet personal connection with the viewer. The back cover features the historic stamp of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, symbolising the prestigious legacy associated with Olevskaya's long-standing artistic collaboration.

This minimalist yet poetic approach emphasises the tactile, contemplative nature of the porcelain pieces themselves, allowing the viewer's experience of the catalogue to be intimate, reflective and memorable — in keeping with Inna Olevskaya's artistic sensibility.

You can find out more about the artist by visiting this website: Inna Olevskaya (RUS)

Photographer: Andrey Terebenin / terebenin@hotmail.com