"Fighting for porcelain" | Ekaterina Elizarova

Recently, the first exhibition "Fighting for Porcelain" was held, organized by the Sysert Development Agency within the framework of the experimental laboratory "Antifragility".
The aim of the project is to rethink the cultural heritage of the once legendary Sysert porcelain factory and breathe new life into it. By the way, "Antifragility" is the second successful case of the Sysert Development Agency. The first is the cult project "Summer at the Factory", which allowed turning the ruins of the ironworks into a creative design cluster with a cultural program, lectures, art residences and spectacular markets, which is a point of attraction for those who are passionate about the historical and cultural DNA of the Russian people.
"Fighting for Porcelain" is the first exhibition where Ekaterina Elizarova acted in a new role of curator. The name of Ekaterina Elizarova has been synonymous with a new approach to object, interior and collector's design for more than 10 years. Ambitious manufacturers and the largest market players turn to her for the development of a concept and the realization of grandiose author's collections. Ekaterina creates commercially successful projects for companies around the world – from Milan to Singapore, she is the first designer in Russia invited to create collections of world-famous brands: Smania, Urban Fabric Rugs, Matlight Milano, Capital Collection, Junior Monarch, etc., as well as the only representative of Russia selected by the Dutch Global Arts Affair foundation to participate in the exhibition "Design objects as art objects" within the framework of the 57th Venice Biennale.

As part of the curation of the exhibition "Fighting for Porcelain", Ekaterina Elizarova faced a difficult task: to combine several different functional zones in one open space. Ekaterina paid special attention to the history of the factory, iconic and modern products, as well as the fundamental features of working with porcelain. Inspired by the approaching New Year and Christmas, the organizers of the exhibition presented to the guests two options for serving festive tables: gothic, graphite-black, which involves unique exhibits of the Antifragility project, as well as completely white using the legendary products of the Sysert porcelain factory. The main part of the exhibition is the result of the work of two art residences, and this is more than 300 exhibits, the demonstration of which requires appropriate space and clearly placed accents. Well, in addition, it was possible to implement a full-fledged market on the territory of the exhibition, presenting exhibits for sale, in order to popularize the project. It is important to note that Ekaterina Elizarova managed to create a format in which such a rather complex concept of the exhibition looks appropriate, and all zones are maximally combined with each other, forming a single ecosystem, emphasizing the scale, versatility and depth of the key idea.
It is important to note that the exhibition was organized as soon as possible, thanks to the well-coordinated work of a team of real professionals. By the way, this is another feature of the project: bringing together the best representatives of the creative industries: graphic design masters, amazing decorators, experts from Elizarova Design Studio and Antifragility specialists, for each of whom participation in the preparation of the exhibition is an important mission. Synergy and a sense of belonging to such a significant project, talent, experience and unique knowledge of these people allowed us to create beyond borders and formats, creating something fundamentally new on the basis of the richest cultural heritage, thereby making a huge contribution to our common future, endowed with meanings beyond time.
Unusual was not only the concept of the exhibition, developed by Ekaterina Elizarova for the Antifragility project, but also the organization of its opening ceremony, which took place from 22.00 to 2 a.m. The invited guests were waiting for the author's performance "Porcelain Garden", incredible installations and a presentation of the project using the original sounds of the Sysert factory, a demonstration of traditional porcelain shapes created at the factory and became legendary, as well as amazing cocktails served in porcelain. Thus, the entourage, thought out to the smallest detail, initiated a complete immersion of visitors into a certain atmosphere, contributing to a change of value paradigms in relation to the cultural heritage given to us, which is a real intellectual luxury to possess.
"Fighting for Porcelain" is not just an exhibition, it is a project endowed with its own philosophy, it is a story of appeal to our cultural code, as well as a successful experience of interaction with folk art crafts. Ekaterina Elizarova, acting as a curator for the first time, was able to bring her vast experience of international work to the organization of the process, identifying Russian culture as a source of inspiration. It is this approach, creative and innovative, that gives the sophisticated viewer a unique opportunity to rethink the ongoing cultural transformations, thereby establishing an unbreakable link between the past and the future, a connection over which time has no power.