Salon dishes Kasumi in St. Petersburg Alexander Losev

Passing the gallery

A photo: George Shablovsky

Text: Olga Gvozdeva

Leading headings: Nina Farizova

Project author: Alexander Losev

Magazine: Free (Cat) 2004

The interior of the Kasumi tableware salon (St. Petersburg, Liteyny pr-t, d. 24) could be compared with the Russian matryoshka if its Japanese essence was not so obvious: a small shop is hidden inside a large store, where expensive collection items are displayed. The unity of opposites inherent in Japanese philosophy is also reflected in this space. As the concepts of “wabi” and “sabi” merged in the worldview of the Japanese into a single “wabi-sabi”, so “stillness” and “transformation” are two components of the aesthetics of this interior. Mobile modules are provided in its stationary structure formed by the portal and wall shop windows. The ability to transform lies in the design of the exhibition windows itself: it is enough to replace the fabric stretched over the frames, and the interior is ready to set off a new collection of the finest Japanese porcelain.