Ritual for Clearing the Mind

Grabar Gallery and MYTH Gallery, in collaboration with Fonarny baths (Lantern Baths), present the group site-specific project "Ritual for Clearing the Mind." The exhibition brings together works by eighteen artists, united by a common theme but realized in diverse mediums—from textile objects and metal sculptures to paintings and audio installations. Featured participants include Recycle Group, Andrey Azbuniak, Lyudmila Baronina, Anna Bystrova, Yulia Virko, Mila Gushchina, Petr Kirusha, Alexander Kitaev, Irina Korina, Olya Kroytor, Vadim Mikhailov, Nikolay Onishchenko, Alexandra Paperno, Vova Perkin, Ulyana Podkorytova, Milena Strelkova, and Egor Fedorichev.

The exhibition’s title references one of modernity’s most sought-after rituals—the cleansing of excess thoughts and the pursuit of slow living. In the whirlwind of daily life, the bathhouse becomes a sanctuary where time slows down and self-reflection becomes possible. This ancient practice, now resurging in our fast-paced world, serves as the exhibition’s conceptual core.

Different eras and cultures have developed their own rites for mental and physical renewal, and this diversity is reflected in the artists’ works. The Fonarny baths, built over 150 years ago by architect Pavel Suzor in the courtyard of M.S. Voronin’s tenement building at the intersection of Lantern Lane and the Moika River, and restored in 2021, provides the perfect setting for this immersive journey. Inspired by Roman baths, the complex’s architecture guides visitors along a nonlinear route through usually inaccessible spaces and hidden inner courtyards, deepening the ritualistic experience—a ritual of mental decluttering.

The exhibition opens with a large-scale installation by Irina Korina, followed by a path lined with hand-painted clay vases by Vova Perkin, blending ancient Roman traditions with Russian bathing customs. At the reception, visitors can choose their path: explore the baths, follow the exhibition route, or stop by "Buffet No. 43."

Recycle Group’s sculptures offer an alternative—a plunge into the virtual world, questioning how digital avatars handle the need for purification. The exhibition’s winding path mirrors the arduous journey of self-improvement, echoed in Olya Kroytor’s cube compositions. The paintings of Yulia Virko and Petr Kirusha, based on historical photographs from Alexander Kitaev’s "Lanterns," invite contemplation on personal growth.

Vadim Mikhailov’s and Ulyana Podkorytova’s installations immerse viewers in folk traditions, while Nikolay Onishchenko’s audio work reflects on the nonlinearity of time. Egor Fedorichev’s works evoke unease, underscoring the ties between historical epochs.

The next stage of the ritual is marked by Milena Strelkova’s "Tree of Paradise," positioning the viewer between desire and reality. Anna Bystrova’s and Mila Gushchina’s textile pieces explore liminal spaces, while Andrey Azbuniak’s Tarot-based prophecies foretell a successful ritual conclusion.

The final stage—and a nod to the mythical Baba Yaga, whose rites shaped the perception of bathhouses as spaces of renewal—is Alexandra Paperno’s installation. But is striking a pose, as in Lyudmila Baronina’s eponymous work, enough to become a better version of oneself? "Ritual for Clearing the Mind" invites visitors to contemplate the rules and paths necessary for purifying body and mind on the way to an "earthly paradise."

The exhibition can only be visited with a mediator—tours last 60 to 90 minutes. Paid guided tours (from 1,000 RUB) run daily from June 11 to 23 at 12:00, 15:00, and 17:00, with limited spots available.

Tickets for the one-hour mediation can be booked here.

Tickets for the mediation + guided tour by "Petersburg Through an Engineer’s Eyes" team are available here. This extended experience explores not only the rituals of mental cleansing but also how they were woven into the daily lives of 19th- and 20th-century St. Petersburg residents.