Number 4

Nina Murashkina

“Number 1” 2025 96 × 31 × 31 cm Ceramics, underglaze drawing, gold, triple firing, high-fired at 1270°C. This vase depicts a man who believes himself to be **Number One** in the world. He stands at the center of his own imaginary universe, surrounded by a procession of women—a symbolic garden in which they bloom like silent flowers, awaiting his attention. The lid is crowned by a siren, whose seductive song lures the protagonist into her deadly trap. While he imagines himself to be the one in control, he ultimately becomes the one enchanted, revealing the fragility of ego and desire. In my work, I enjoy exploring the shifting balance between the feminine and the masculine. Through symbolism and a touch of irony, this vase reflects on power, seduction, and the illusions we create about ourselves. Clarify the vase’s material descriptionMake the symbolism more concise