The idea of death in different cultures primarily reveals the meaning of life. Similarly, concepts of the path of life shape and define the cultural identity of each individual. What is it like to bury someone of another culture and faith? How can one understand a person of another culture and faith? These are questions of significant importance in any era of history.
The issue that deeply interests me is this: whose ideas are truly reflected in the burial rituals—the one performing the burial or the one being buried? My project draws inspiration from the traditional cultures of various peoples. By studying burial rituals, I recreate through symbolic attributes those elements that narrate the journey a person has taken in their life.
The captured images depict the moment of transition from the old state to a new one, leaving an impression of frozen movement for those who are bidding farewell.
The issue that deeply interests me is this: whose ideas are truly reflected in the burial rituals—the one performing the burial or the one being buried? My project draws inspiration from the traditional cultures of various peoples. By studying burial rituals, I recreate through symbolic attributes those elements that narrate the journey a person has taken in their life.
The captured images depict the moment of transition from the old state to a new one, leaving an impression of frozen movement for those who are bidding farewell.
series:
THE CULTURE OF FAREWELL
THE CULTURE OF FAREWELL
HOILGO is a funeral horse that is buried alongside its owner during the burial ceremony in Buryat culture. The root "khoy" from the word "khoito" means "north." This indicates that the Buryats buried the deceased on the northern side or positioned with their heads facing north. The khoylgo symbolizes a horse directed toward the side where the sun does not shine.
series: The Culture Of Farewell
HOILGO
2022
video object
size: 63x30
video, genuine leather, polymer clay, branches, mixed media
video object
size: 63x30
video, genuine leather, polymer clay, branches, mixed media
2022
video object
size: 58x30
video, branches, polymer clay, fur, mixed media
video object
size: 58x30
video, branches, polymer clay, fur, mixed media
MY DEAR IMANA
series: The Culture Of Farewell
IMANA is a traditional Evenki name. Meaning: snowy, born during snow.
2023
video object
size: 70x40
video, plexiglass, satin, mixed media
video object
size: 70x40
video, plexiglass, satin, mixed media
BRIDGE OVER THE DEAD RIVER
series: The Culture Of Farewell
CURRANT — a river in East Slavic folklore that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead, serving as an obstacle that a person or their soul must overcome on the journey to the afterlife.
2023
video object
size: 40x45
video, charcoal, felt, mixed media
video object
size: 40x45
video, charcoal, felt, mixed media
CHARCOAL
series: The Culture Of Farewell
KIZHINIY SOGIN OTKO ERTYOR — the name of a burial method among the Telengits, in which the deceased was surrounded by firewood on four sides (aligned with the cardinal directions) and set on fire. Afterward, the remains were collected in a felt bag and hung on a tree.
