Coca Cola mouse 2021

Editor: Here we have "Coca Cola Mouse" by Sergey Piskunov, created in 2021. It’s a sculpture made from mixed media, collage, assemblage, found objects, and readymade components. It’s kind of adorable but also slightly unsettling. The use of the Coca-Cola cans is so prevalent, it almost overwhelms the object itself. What are your initial thoughts on this work? Curator: Overwhelming is a good word. For me, it's this really poignant symbol, this playful, slightly menacing figure pieced together from a global brand. The 'readymade' element really stands out. It takes this ubiquitous symbol, Coca-Cola, and turns it into something… else. What do you make of the mouse form itself, versus what it’s made from? Editor: That's a good point. The mouse is cute, almost childlike, while the Coca-Cola branding represents mass consumption. It's like a commentary on how childhood innocence is being consumed by corporate giants? Curator: Exactly! And it invites reflection: Are we constructing our identities, even our childhoods, out of these branded materials? Do those 'tears' of water look melancholic to you? The shiny surfaces reflect a certain sense of pleasure but also a residue from a consumable commodity. Editor: I do see a hint of sadness, or perhaps a critique on our throw-away culture. I never would have considered the water droplet detail, they appear a little unsettling now that you mention them. The work is not purely about a 'fun' mouse as it would first appear. Curator: Yes. The artist is holding up a mirror. Reflecting on value and waste. It feels deeply relevant in our current moment. This dialogue made me realize a sense of urgency present here, this construction exists *now*. Editor: Definitely! It’s made me think about all the branding we interact with daily and how it shapes our perspectives more than we realize. I came into this piece looking for just "cute", I'm leaving seeing consumer critique.