The true meaning of a culture is often lost in translation or ignored in favour of promoting a one-dimensional view of the folklore tales and their characters. My body of work explores the deeper meaning of the tale of Baba Yaga, a character often limited to the “evil Russian witch” archetype in Western media.
However, the character holds far more depth and importance in Slavic folklore; she can be both kind and evil, can be the bridge between the living and the dead, can cause suffering or provide crucial aid, yet is always honest with her intentions.
In my work I combined these perspectives into a single iteration of Baba Yaga as I see her: she who balances between the “light” and the “dark” yet is not loyal to either side.
