Guests at SPIEF 2026 praise the National Centre RUSSIA’s unusual art object
Amid the robots, innovations and technologies of the St
Petersburg International Economic Forum, an unusual nevalyashka (a roly-poly
toy) brought to the venue by the National Centre RUSSIA captured the attention
of guests. Instead of the familiar toy, visitors encountered a futuristic structure:
new figures emerged from a single figure like the branches of a tree growing
upwards. The new image serves as a reminder that the future cannot exist
without the foundation of the past, and that each new generation grows from the
previous one, just as branches grow from a trunk.
"It stands there looking so proud and beautiful. You
want to walk up to it, hug it, take a photograph and, most importantly, tell
your child what it was like in your childhood and what it symbolises for many
people later in life," said Yekaterina Klyuyeva.
Forum guest Yulia Vasilskaya admitted that the art object
evoked a feeling that art historians describe as catharsis. "On the one
hand, it is something modern, but at the same time it feels very familiar,
classical and rooted in childhood," she explained.
Valeriya Pavlichenkova drew attention to the symbolism of
the structure. In her view, the additional nevalyashkas in place of the toy's
traditional arms are not merely a fantasy element, but also a metaphor for
unity, a concept that is particularly relevant today.
"The forum is literally filled with installations, but
this nevalyashka stands out in a very powerful way because it promotes
traditional values that are so important today. The additional nevalyashkas in
place of the classic arms can be associated with unity in all things: the unity
of peoples, families, countries and economies. It represents a partnership that
makes us stronger," said Valeriya Pavlichenkova.
The structure also reminded guest from India Gaurav Sharma
not only of unity, but of life's journey, with its highs and lows, ego and
humility.
"When I looked at this art object, it made me think
that life is never a straight path. Different elements carry different
meanings. Yet no matter how much life may push us off balance, we return to
ourselves and to our true nature through our own perceptions, ambitions and
fears. That is why I believe it is important to enjoy everything that comes our
way, because we never know which moment will become a high point and which will
become a low one," said Gaurav Sharma.
The unusual art object was created by the National Centre
RUSSIA together with the Government of the Tambov Region and the Kotovsk
Nevalyashka Factory. The Head of the Tambov Region, Yevgeny Pervyshov, noted
that the classic nevalyashka has been produced in Kotovsk for many years and
has now gained a new philosophical interpretation. Plans for the near future
include signing a cooperation agreement and launching the
"Nevalyashkino" tourism project, for which this imaginative art
object has become the first, yet highly significant, symbol.
Event photobank
Natalia Virtuozova is convinced that visiting expositions in person remains especially important.
