I am Antanina Rusinouskaya — a theatre artist exploring the boundaries between performance, space and visual art.My practice spans scenography, art objects, costume and visual design. I am interested in how a story can extend beyond the stage — into an existing environment, an unexpected location or an encounter between an object and its audience.Moving between theatre and site-specific practice, I develop visual concepts that respond to the character of a place and transform the way it is experienced.

I see theatre as a way of exploring and transforming the world around us. I am drawn to the relationship between a story, its environment and the people who inhabit it.I approach each project as an opportunity to develop a distinct visual language — one that responds to its context, explores the qualities of materials and creates meaningful experiences for the audience.I am particularly interested in working beyond traditional theatrical spaces, discovering how unexpected locations can become part of the artistic narrative.

the challenge For this project, I developed the visual concept and design for the final performance of a theatre studio. The main challenge was to find a simple and concise visual solution that would establish the atmosphere and bring the performance together into a coherent world.my solution The central idea behind my concept was that all grown-ups were once children — although few of them remember it.For the performance, I created a series of video projections and props inspired by childhood and the process of making art. The entire world became a playful, cardboard-like environment, where ink blots and paint stains turned into metaphors for the plane crash, while a rose grew out of a single drop of paint.I also developed custom projections and cardboard props for the inhabitants of each planet, reflecting their individual stories and personalities.

the result The final scenographic sketches present a minimal, almost paper-like playground: a slide hidden among the dunes, with swings hanging from the tail of a star.For the costumes, I developed a unified visual concept for the characters — the inhabitants of the planets. They wear oversized adult garments in desert-inspired colours, decorated with drawings and symbols related to their individual characters. Together, the costumes form a kind of imaginary uniform.

the challenge To develop a performative experience for an evening of blues improvisation.my solution Drawing inspiration from the nature of improvisation and the fluidity of music, I proposed the concept of «wind catchers» — stretched fabric sail-like structures that gradually transform and unfold throughout the concert.Together with a fellow artist, we developed this idea into a visual journey from the depths of the sea to the heights of the sky. Music became a metaphor for flowing currents of water and air, carrying the audience on an imaginary voyage through seas and skies, accompanied by poetry and performative elements.

the result Together, we developed a cohesive four-act performance: (I) The beginning of the journey — streams and rivers (II) Into the sea — immersion in the underwater world (III) The depths of the ocean — a journey into the unknown (IV) The edge of the earth — reaching the horizonmy role I also supervised the production process and oversaw the artistic direction of the props and scenographic elements, ensuring that the visual concept was consistently translated into physical form.

the challenge To design costumes for the characters Thingumy and Bob (Vifsla and Tofsla).my solution I approached the characters as extraterrestrial travellers journeying through space. Their costumes combine elements of travelwear with extravagant, exaggerated details.The central piece is a travel-inspired poncho cloak, hand-painted with imagery of cosmic journeys and stars. It is complemented by an oversized, richly decorated collar, with each character wearing one half of a shared design.

the result The costumes were presented in the Community Library as part of an experimental musical performance.my role I also developed the spatial design for the event, creating a pop-up landscape of paper mountains and hills that appeared to grow out of the bookshelves, transforming the library into a fantastical environment.

the challenge To create an art installation inspired by Marc Chagall, designed for a specific set of conditions: an outdoor performance with actors taking place around a small house in the forest.my solution Marc Chagall’s artistic world is deeply personal. He was an artist who carried many identities, moved between different places throughout his life, yet always maintained a strong connection to his roots.To create an interactive environment, I drew inspiration from the image of a floating house. The house represents the connections and threads we weave around ourselves wherever we go. The actors can exist within this network of threads, interact with it, or break free from it.

the result The resulting installation can serve both as an interactive environment for a mobile performance about the artist’s life and journey, and as an independent installation that invites visitors to take part in a collaborative creative process.