During the «Arkhostoyaniye» festival, Irina Korina gave a tour of her «Pavilion of Delusions,» explaining why this house only appears to be a sanctuary.
From a distance, it resembles a typical country house—with a porch, lace curtains, and colorful windows. But upon getting closer, it becomes clear that the building is nearly transparent. Light and wind pass freely through it, and the feeling of a secure refuge turns out to be an illusion.
«Home always travels with us. Sometimes just a ray of sunshine falling on the edge of a blanket, a reflection in a window, or a certain smell is enough to feel at home again. I like that this structure reflects the sky and almost dissolves into the space. But at the same time, it speaks to the impossibility of preserving anything forever. We only seem to think that we can safeguard precious memories. More likely, it’s an illusion, ” says Irina Korina.
While working on the project, she constantly referenced Gaston Bachelard’s book, The Poetics of Space. In it, a house is understood not as an architectural structure, but as an internal feeling—a memory that a person carries with them throughout their life.
The pavilion concept was finally solidified in 2023. At that time, the artist decided to place a real residential house inside a transparent structure. Nearly three years were spent realizing the project, and its interior was assembled from Korina’s personal memories. It features a summerhouse veranda, an old lampshade, windows with a wooden frame, and the walls are covered with photo prints of a real neighboring dacha where she spent her childhood.
Starting this year, the pavilion is no longer solely an art installation. It has become part of the «Archstoyaniye» hospitality program, and now this house can be rented overnight.
