Nizhny Novgorod dolls are given as gifts at the SPIEF-2026 instead of Labubu.

      June 4, 2026 12:43 Culture and Leisure The "Matra" dolls, created by artist Evgenia Goltsova from Nizhny Novgorod, became gifts for guests of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The project was implemented in collaboration with Dzen, reports pravda-nn.ru. A total of 60 exclusive works were prepared by the artist - 20 copies in each of the three forms. The wooden dolls are hand-painted with geometric and floral patterns in acrylic technique.

      It is fundamentally important for me that this is precisely lathe work: even if I later scale the forms into fiberglass, the base is always developed and turned in wood, - said Evgenia Goltsova.

      The artist has been creating such dolls for four years. Their name "Matra" appeared after shortening the word "matryoshka." In Sanskrit, it means a moment equal to the blink of an eye.

      This is the philosophy of my doll: none are repeated, no matter how many I make in my lifetime. I do everything myself and do not teach anyone this. Repetition is deadly for me - it means catching my yesterday, - explained the master.

      To prepare the gifts for the SPIEF, Evgenia Goltsova practically did not leave her home for a month. According to her, the work went smoothly as it brought her joy. Her main goal is to perceive the heritage of Nizhny Novgorod masters not as a museum exhibit, but as contemporary art. The artist is confident that her works will look organically both in modern interiors and in museums and private collections.

      Sometimes I use elements of Gorodets painting, but I do it very subtly, with a certain grotesque, in a new author's presentation. It is important for me not to offend the masters of our region with an inaccurate technological interpretation of their traditions, - emphasized Evgenia Goltsova.

      In addition, the master noted that "Matra" is a Nizhny Novgorod creation. The artist cannot provide an answer to the question of why her style was chosen for the collaboration.

      I only know that Dzen was looking for something modern in Nizhny Novgorod, but with strong roots going back to the past, and quickly found me. I was very happy, - said Evgenia Goltsova.

      Let us remind you that at SPIEF in 2025, guests were given toys Labubu with the faces of famous Russian politicians. Earlier, we published photographs from the SPIEF-2026 site (18+). NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.