Zhanna Kadyrova. From the series “Market” (2017–2021). 2018. Photodocumentation of the performance by Taras Polishchuk and Zhanna Kadyrova

Series description

The series of works “Market” — installations of market stalls filled with sculptural vegetables, fruits, fish, or sausage products, or benches with pastries, pies, and other sweet baked goods. All these products are recreated in rough materials: tiles, stone, and concrete. Mostly, the project is accompanied by a performance by Zhanna Kadyrova: dressed as a saleswoman, she offers visitors to buy the presented objects. Depending on the country, the artist chooses the local currency, according to which the sculptures are sold by weight: one gram costs one hryvnia, euro, dollar, etc.

The work has been presented both at exhibitions and fairs, where it instantly resonates with the event format. The project serves as a critical commentary on the formation of art prices: the heavier the sculpture, the more expensive it is. Here, a parallel can be drawn with the valuation of graphics and paintings, where the main evaluation criterion is often the size of the work.