Escape Gallery is a new multimedia project by Angelina Merenkova where gallery space is rearranged into a labyrinth and the spectator turns into a ‘quest’ game participant. For the first time gallery’s exhibiting space would be totally reinterpreted and reconstructed with the regards to the artistic concept. Three chambers represent three thematically different sections with three different expositions where art objects do not solely turn into mediators of meanings and ideas but into a tool for perception of the surrounding reality. The exhibition would feature embroideries and weavings by Merenkova in a vast variety of medias– from banners to framed canvases’ imitations, from objects to video pieces.

In her new project, Merenkova speaks on a universally relevant topic– the interrelations of real and digital spaces that are tied together inseparably for people nowadays. Never ending from the offline to online and backwards lead to counterpoductiveness, substitution of a real identity with an avatar, impossibility to receive a constantly ongoing newsfeed and the inevitable secondariness of everything new coming out. According to Angelina, an art protest could not be realized within the capitalistic terms of the neoliberal society. It is challenging for artists to spark a revolution which is why Merenkova proposes to broaden the framework of perception through allowing the spectator to enter a game with the artist and to find the keys and answers all by himself.

Angelina Merenkova (born 1988) is one of the brightest names of the younger generation of Moscow artists. In her work, she implies a vast variety of techniques– from painting and installations to photography, embroidery and sewing. Merenkova graduated from Bauman’s University and later completed degrees at Free Workshops (2011-2012) and Baza(2012-2014) Institutes of Contemporary Art. In 2017, Angelina had her first solo exhibition, Sign Horizon, at pop/off/art gallery space. Merenkova participated in dozens of group exhibitions as an artist and as a curator, including the noticeable ‘Make a raise’ project, realized in collaboration with Evgeniya Nozhkina in the Untitled exhibition space within the Parallel program of Moscow Biennial for Younger Art (2016) with the support of pop/off/art gallery. Since 2017, Angelina Merenkova has been living in Paris where she is currently doing a degree in Paris VIII University. Her works could be found in numerous private collections in Russia and abroad. Merenkova lives and works in Paris and Moscow.