Matter and shape 2025

“Follow the sun

And you will arrive at yourself”

Victoria Yakusha

At this year’s Matter and Shape Salon, FAINA, the furniture and decor brand founded by Victoria Yakusha—an interior designer, architect, and founder of the multidisciplinary Yakusha studio—unveils an immersive installation, reflecting her pioneering “live minimalism” approach. Known for crafting spaces that are functional and full of energy, Yakusha’s designs invite visitors into a world where furniture transcends its traditional role, becoming a living entity. With a focus on animism, each piece is infused with spirit, memory, and a deep connection to the natural world.

At the heart of the installation is Grun’, a collection inspired by the mystical forests of Polisia. These objects do more than occupy a space; they transform it, filling it with the quiet hum of life and the wisdom of nature.

Press release

The Grun’ lamp acts as a beacon of warmth, casting a glow that flickers like light filtering through dense woodland canopies. Its organic form evokes ancient trees—silent yet watchful—as shadows shift and breathe around it.

The Grun’ armchair serves as a conduit between past and future. Its grounded base channels the earth’s energy, while antenna-like extensions reach skyward, seeking the infinite. Sitting within it becomes an immersion into a greater experience, where history and the future merge into the present. The Grun’ bench continues this exploration, embodying the belief that objects hold spirit. Its shape evokes a woodland creature—familiar yet fantastical—blurring the lines between form, function, and life itself.

In addition to the Grun’ collection, Yakusha introduces other works that echo the same animistic perspective. The Volyk bench, named after the Ukrainian word for “freedom,” celebrates movement and boundless energy. Its sculptural form exudes a sense of liberation, a visual reminder of Ukraine’s enduring spirit of independence and resilience.

At the center of the installation, Soniah radiates with the rhythm of the sun, uniting these pieces under its warm glow, as if watching over them from above.

This installation also reflects the design ethos Yakusha Studio brings to every interior project—a seamless blend of minimalism and living energy. “Minimalism is the foundation,” says Yakusha, “but I want to feel life in a space. The energy of an object should fill its surroundings, creating a connection that transcends function.” This vision is brought to life through FAINA’s pieces and how Yakusha Studio designs entire spaces focusing on craftsmanship, natural materials, and the sense of timelessness. Yakusha Studio’s work merges architectural forms with vitality, creating interiors that resonate with life and energy.

Through this installation, Yakusha invites visitors into a world where design doesn’t merely exist for us but exists with us—breathing, whispering, and evolving within the spaces we inhabit. For her, live minimalism is not just a style; it’s a way of seeing, feeling, and being within the world.