Yulia Belousova

The artwork EXIT is composed as a digital video collage, combining various elements to create multiple levels of perception and interpretation.

Born in the 90s in the disintegrated USSR, the entertainment options for children and teenagers were extremely limited. The artist spent much of her time in the company of her older brother, who enjoyed typical boyish games, with Tekken 3 being the most popular and classic Playstation game among them. She recalls playing with her brother, even though it didn't bring much pleasure, and she developed calluses on her fingers from the intense gameplay. Pleasure, in general, seemed absent. Tekken 3 involves a fight between two characters, each with a lifeline displayed at the top of the screen. After three attempts, the loser's character dies. The artist dreamt of games designed for girls, wishing to be Alice in Wonderland and follow the white bunny.

In her conscious phase, the artist produces work that integrates elements of memory and transforms the lack of choice in the past into the present version, exploring how these can be reinterpreted. The work raises the question: What if the entire struggle is purely internal, a conflict between our own opposites? The piece portrays Alice versus Alice, illustrating the internal conflict. The resolution to this struggle lies in surrender—falling into the abyss, into darkness, and letting go of control. The loop symbolizes descending down the rabbit hole, implying a journey of self - discovery and transformation.