Artist Anastasia Vepreva on collecting rejection letters and the distinguished history of failure

As part of a collaboration with GARAGE Museum and Studios, Russia Z presents the first of the series of videos aiming to highlight the best of young talent in Russian art.

GARAGE studios was established in 2019 to give emerging artistic talent from Russia and beyond a space to work and collaborate. GARAGE Studios comprises 18 separate working spaces, a shared workshop, and a painting studio located in a post-Constructivist pavilion at VDNKh, which was built in 1939. At the same time, the project is much more than just the space: it’s about creating the support network for young talent in the midst of the rapidly shifting art market and world. As part of Russia Z, we are giving you a peek into the creative practice of GARAGE Studios residents – due to Covid-19 pandemic, from their own homes.

The first video centres on the work of Anastasia Vepreva: an artist, curator, and art critic based in St Petersburg. She discusses her use of digital technologies to expose the precarious nature of labour in the art market and the cryptic stories behind her tactile hand-crafted paper sculptures.