Kalashnikov IKEA

object | product manual | sales listing | 2023

In September 2022, IKEA held its final sale, after which the store completely left Russia. Over 22 years of operation, Russians came to appreciate and love the quality, functionality, and design of IKEA products. I fully understand the sadness of ordinary people over the closure of the store network in the country (I even understand the crowds on the last day of the sale). However, it was hard for me to understand and accept the buzz in traditional media and social media.

“Girls, share what’s best to buy at the IKEA sale, what’s not available in other stores, we’re going there for the opening tomorrow” — all Russian social networks and chats were full of such questions.

The level of news about IKEA’s closure and final sale almost surpassed the level of news about the war in Ukraine. In news programs and social media, we saw a real clash of the capitalist model of society with wartime activities.

My project was a reaction to this phenomenon. For me, the situation seemed absurd, and thus my project is also entirely absurd. I believe that a store leaving the country cannot be more important than a military invasion of a foreign country.

What could be less significant than a toilet paper roll? Such a roll is useless, ridiculous, and associated with the toilet. At best, it is used by children in art classes and for crafting. This material and its connotations were the best fit for the object I created.

The project consists of three equally important parts: the object, the manual, and the listing on Avito.
(Avito is a website similar to OLX or eBay, where people buy and sell everything. Avito became the main platform for the secondary sale of IKEA products after the store closed in Russia. People specifically bought items during the sale to later profit from them. Currently, under the keyword “IKEA” on Avito, there are about one and a half million listings (on OLX and eBay up to 50-100 thousand). Therefore, I decided to place a listing there and make it part of the project, giving people the opportunity to reflect, and maybe even rethink their attitude towards the war.

The manual is an equally important part of the project. The work began with it. I was inspired while browsing a children’s book with craft ideas. I decided to create something similar for adults. The very idea of a craft book for adults might seem quite strange, and I liked that. Then the idea of the book turned into an absurd manual and an absurd object.

Translation of the ad text on Avito: Original Kałasznikow Gevär (IKEA), brand new, unopened packaging. Modern, minimalist design, high-quality paper. We had two of these — no complaints, we are extremely satisfied. Selling due to moving.