Metarealism is a movement in Russian poetry and art that began in the 1970s and 1980s. It includes poets such as Konstantin Kedrov, Viktor Krivulin, Elena Katsyuba, Elena Shvarts, Ivan Zhdanov, Aleksandr Yeryomenko, Svetlana Kekova, Yuri Arabov, Alexei Parshchikov, Sergei Nadeem, and Nikolai Kononov. The term "metarealism" was first used by Mikhail Epshtein in 1981. He introduced it to the public in the Soviet magazine Voprosy Literatury in 1983.

M. Epshtein explains that metarealism, in its philosophical meaning, is called "metaphysical realism." In terms of style, it is described as "metaphorical realism." The word "meta" means both "through" and "beyond" the visible reality we experience. Therefore, metarealism explores the idea that things have a "hyperphysical" nature, which is not fully visible. The main way this idea is expressed is through a non-visual metaphor, which Epshtein calls a "metabola." A "metabola" means "transfer" or "transition" and suggests the existence of many dimensions. Unlike symbols or "visual" metaphors, a metabola connects different realities. Metarealism is different from surrealism because it focuses on the superconscious, not the subconscious, allowing for a view of the world with many dimensions.

Metarealism became more widely discussed after it was debated at an exhibition by the House of Artists. There, people talked about its usefulness as a new creative method to move beyond traditional realism.

After postmodernism, metarealism has taken on a new meaning in philosophy. The idea that reality is divided into two separate categories—real and not real, or mind-independent and mind-dependent—has been questioned through studies in many fields. Metarealism now aims to go beyond these strict divisions, showing that there are many different ways something can be considered "real."

Literary form

Metarealism is similar to metaconscience, which means it looks beyond what we normally think about with our minds. It focuses on a view of reality that is not limited by personal opinions or emotions. Metarealism aims to show the reality that exists beyond our usual way of seeing things. It tries to describe not only how we can see other parts of reality through pictures but also what those parts truly are and how they connect to us as humans. In this way, metarealism helps people grow in their understanding of the world. Just as artists in the past created sacred art to share their spiritual views of reality, metarealism uses art to express deeper truths. Epstein said that the history of art around the world is the foundation of metarealism, especially its use of symbols, summaries, and ideas from different cultures. For example, the term "metabola" comes from a dictionary and an encyclopedia of culture, translated into other languages to describe a reality where different truths overlap. Epstein believed metarealism is an effort to give words their full meaning, both in how they describe things and their deeper, spiritual significance.

Metarealism can also be seen as a form of sacred art because it tries to show the true nature of reality from a perspective that sees the whole of existence, not just parts of it. This perspective, called "metaconscious," looks at reality as a complete whole rather than from a personal or limited viewpoint. Metarealism uses pictures to show how other dimensions of reality exist and how they directly affect and connect to us. It also explores how these dimensions relate to how we use symbols in our minds to understand them. As a storytelling style, metarealism does not focus on a single main character. Instead, it highlights the "sum of perceptions," which is the space made up of many different viewpoints.

In visual art

According to Bernard De Montréal, most modern visual art is considered involutionary art. This type of art reflects hidden struggles and frustrations from the unconscious mind as it tries to understand a person's true identity. It uses complex symbols and meanings to express these feelings, acting as a way for the soul to communicate ideas that are not easily connected to a person's sense of self.

"Metarealism," a form of conscious or mental art, is created by artists who are deeply aware of themselves. This art is inspired by a person's higher self and serves as a way to share knowledge about art that comes from a higher level of thinking. Unlike simpler forms of art, which are often just cultural items with limited value, metarealism focuses on exploring deeper aspects of the mind.

Mental artists rarely rely on unconscious emotions. Instead, they use their creativity to explore higher levels of awareness through their work, rather than just creating art for entertainment. Art in its astral form, which exists beyond the physical world, is part of our civilization. It reminds us that reality has more depth than it seems. Art in its highest form is therefore created by a new kind of person.