2026

Thing Without Necessity

The project brings together graphic works, painting, an art object, and — for the first time in this exhibition — the author's own 3D graphics and animation. One and the same image runs through different materials and techniques, changing form, color, and density, without changing its essence.


Read more about the concept...

“Thing #61” — mixed media. A ball of primed canvas ribbons on a woven base. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #61
art object, primed canvas ribbon, photo
“Thing #41” — drawing. A woven ball of ribbons turning into a patterned knot. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #41
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #10” — drawing. A bundle of ribbons against black blots. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #10
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #79” — drawing. A tangled ball of thin hatched ribbons. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #79
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #65” — drawing. A ball of hatched ribbons with black loops. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #65
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #72” — drawing. A twisted ribbon spiralling downwards. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #72
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #44” — drawing. Mesh spheres turning into tangled ribbons. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #44
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #18” — drawing. A ring of tightly wound ribbons with a long tail. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #18
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #37” — drawing. A knot of ribbons hanging down in thin strips. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #37
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #96” — drawing. A form of wound ribbons with a red accent and a stone. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #96
Paper, gel pen, 21×30 cm, 2026
“Thing #25” — painting. Pastel ribbons intertwined with patterned forms. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #25
Canvas, oil, 65×53 cm, 2026
“Thing #22” — painting. A lush ball of multicoloured ribbons on an ochre ground. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #22
Canvas, oil, 65×53 cm, 2026
“Thing #56” — painting. Pale ribbons hanging from a rod among red patterns. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #56
Canvas, oil, 65×53 cm, 2026
“Thing #34” — painting. A warm-toned ribbon cocoon among blue patterns. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #34
Canvas, oil, 65×53 cm, 2026
“Thing #7” — painting. A ring of pale ribbons inside a blue shell. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #7
Canvas, oil, 65×53 cm, 2026
“Thing #90” — painting. Spiral ribbons curving in an arc on a light ground. Irina Merkulova, aesthetics of uncertainty
Thing #90
Canvas, oil, 65×53 cm, 2026
Thing #19
3D model, animation, sound