Residency time: 15 April - 13 May
Show time: 22 - 31 May during Vruchtbare Grond
We asked Anna some questions:
What's the purpose or goal of your work?
As a graphic designer and in my independent artistic practice, I like to see myself as an attentive listener. I aim to translate people’s (or my own) stories, anecdotes, and wishes into systematic narratives—giving them a different voice and, hopefully, a wider reach through text or image. I’m learning to be more proactive and strive to build a sense of community around every project—to think critically together and co-create. For instance, a year ago, I compiled a pocket publication titled Podorozhnik, featuring poems by Russian poets about the road and the metaphor of border crossing. I handed out the booklets to travelers crossing the border between Tallinn and Saint Petersburg. The project didn’t have a wide reach or result in a community, but I often return to it as a reminder of my goal: to connect with others rather than create in isolation. At the same time, my work has a more personal purpose— self-centered but just as important: simply to have fun and learn more about myself through the creative process.
Describe your dream project?
I once dreamed of creating costume designs for Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. On stage, the ballerinas held colourful sponge-like objects, making their movements slow and absurd. I grew up in Moscow, and my mom had a friend who danced at the Bolshoi Theatre, so seeing Nutcracker became a yearly tradition. I guess I’ve watched this ballet so many times in its traditional form that I subconsciously started imagining other ways to experience it—longing for a different visual interpretation of this musical piece.
As distant as this dream is from my specific aspirations—I don’t dream of designing costumes for Nutcracker—I think it reflects my deeper desire to work in theatre and collaborate across disciplines like music and performance through design.
Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
My artistic network is made up of close friends—open-minded, generous people encouraging me to create. Together with my friend Naomi Serov, we founded Registry, a collective that explores artistic ways of interpreting bureaucracy—questioning its structures through publishing, performance, and play. As part of our residency at Microwave Radio, we launched SotoSpeak, a podcast that engages with these ideas.
Additionally, I’ve been connected to a vast network of classical musicians since my adolescence, and some have become close friends. We often collaborate—I create posters, invitations, and other visuals for their concerts. Recently, I became the in-house designer for @the.studio.wien, a project hosting underground classical music concerts in Vienna, founded by my friend Beata Prokhorova. The dedication of those around me—whether on stage, in publishing, or in conceptual practice— continually inspires me to explore the intersections between graphic design, performance, and storytelling.
