Russian Artist Creates Surreal Photos To Illustrate Traditional Fairy Tales
Photographer and artist Uldus Bakhtiozina’s photos treat us to her unique vision of Russian fairy tales. She reinterprets them in her photos by focusing on the pagans roots and ethnography of Russ Land.
Her works are thoroughly detailed and immersive, and are based on comprehensive research on and comparison with Euro-Asian mythology. The artist pays special attention to her ambivalent interpretation of the symbolism hidden in legends and myths. The aim of the project is to use photography for telling stories that have been unsaid, rewritten or distorted over many centuries. Each tale contains a lot of hidden messages.
In Russian fairy tales, princesses have the ability to transform into animals like frogs, swans, snakes, etc. Uldus invites her audience to speculate on the ambiguity and dualism of each character in Russian folklore.
More info: uldus.com | Facebook | Instagram
Winter Face
Ivan the Prince
Ivan is the common hero in Russian fairy tales. Normally, his goal is to find something that no one else can. Although, he speaks with animals, flies on carpets, fights with dragons, he’s often called a fool. However, etymologically durak (‘fool’ in English) means “someone who follows the sun”. Unfortunately, the word had gained a negative meaning in Slavic languages.
Soul of forest
The Seven Knights and the Dead Princess
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga had been transformed into a bad character in modern Russian fairy tales, although originally she was a strong sorcerer who opened the gate to other world. The name of that world is Three Ninth Kingdom in fairy; the land is covered in kisel shores and milky rivers.
Tsarevna the Frog
Princess Frog’s story is sad. According to this fairy tale, “kind people” (!) turned a princess into a frog (according to another version, it was her father who did it because she was smarter than him). She was living in the swamps but once she got lucky, the story begins…
Magic of Kisel shores
Olenushka and her brother Ivanushka
White Swan and Milky Rivers
Red Beauty/ Krasna devica
Red beauty (Krasna devica) used to be a name for any young pretty girl in Russian land, though meaning again has nothing to do with the color but with the goddess of modesty and freedom of youth.
Milky rivers
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Share on FacebookAmaizing! So dark and creative, Unlike anything I would imagine, incredible!!
Hey, these photos made by a menthally ill person? + with no respect to traditions of Russia. No beauty, no good idea of making it.
Absolutely! Ivan wrapped in a carpet? And those dwarfs look like modern hipsters
Load More Replies...It's not great, it's sloppy work. And, yes, i know russian folk tales.
"Красна девица" doesn't mean "red beauty" and has nothing to do with goddesses. It simply translates to "fair maiden" from archaic Russian.
RED BEAUTY? really? "red" there means "very" aka extra-beutiful also that is a polite version of welcoming/asking, aka "miss"
Gorgeous photographs, and a very thoughtful project! Has the artist a book of these photographs available?
Leave it to Russians to hate everything. The photos are beautiful, and still you guys are bitter. Oh well.
If you liked this, you should watch Grimes - Dream Fortress video. It was made by a russian girl, who created smtng btfl with the characters
It is very interesting and profound view to the Russian folklore - and amazing art!
Outstanding work. I'd like to see a showing of this work in Toronto.
Absolutely breathtaking! I really hope this art is published with a retelling of the fairytales. I would definitely buy a few as gifts!!!
Interesting. I have always found folktales from other lands fascinating.
Most beautiful I have ever seen, imaginative,, wonderful imagination
Amaizing! So dark and creative, Unlike anything I would imagine, incredible!!
Hey, these photos made by a menthally ill person? + with no respect to traditions of Russia. No beauty, no good idea of making it.
Absolutely! Ivan wrapped in a carpet? And those dwarfs look like modern hipsters
Load More Replies...It's not great, it's sloppy work. And, yes, i know russian folk tales.
"Красна девица" doesn't mean "red beauty" and has nothing to do with goddesses. It simply translates to "fair maiden" from archaic Russian.
RED BEAUTY? really? "red" there means "very" aka extra-beutiful also that is a polite version of welcoming/asking, aka "miss"
Gorgeous photographs, and a very thoughtful project! Has the artist a book of these photographs available?
Leave it to Russians to hate everything. The photos are beautiful, and still you guys are bitter. Oh well.
If you liked this, you should watch Grimes - Dream Fortress video. It was made by a russian girl, who created smtng btfl with the characters
It is very interesting and profound view to the Russian folklore - and amazing art!
Outstanding work. I'd like to see a showing of this work in Toronto.
Absolutely breathtaking! I really hope this art is published with a retelling of the fairytales. I would definitely buy a few as gifts!!!
Interesting. I have always found folktales from other lands fascinating.
Most beautiful I have ever seen, imaginative,, wonderful imagination
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