VRSC mouse 2021

Sergey Piskunov's ‘VRSC mouse’ seems to be made from stuffed fabric and cellophane wrap, emblazoned with Versace’s logo. It’s a readymade object, a found thing, elevated through artistic intervention. The choice of materials is interesting, and the artist is commenting on the modern themes of consumer culture. Versace is all about ‘more is more,’ and here its excessive branding has been abstracted to a cartoon form of Mickey Mouse. The cellophane wrap is also interesting, because it reminds me of packing materials and the ways that luxury goods can travel the world. In this artwork, Piskunov is bringing together high-fashion and cartoon-like figures, and questioning the boundaries of high and low culture. He’s inviting us to rethink the value we assign to these things. How much of our value system comes simply from recognizable imagery and commercial brands?