My artistic shamanic dolls from the new collection "Spirits of the ancient woods"

Who are Poterchata? When babies got stolen by mermaids, these babies turn into Poterchata.

For seven years they must have been walking and flying in the woods, and their voices are like the croaking of frogs, and whoever hears their voice must immediately throw away everything that he/she was holding in hands at the moment.

After seven years, Poterczata turn into storks.

Poterchata have special wisdom, especially in asking and solving puzzles.  They can provide useful advice and answers to the difficult questions, but their behavior is unpredictable, and pranks with them can end badly. According to legend, they live mainly in lakes or swamps.  They walk in the dark with flashing lights known as "wandering lights".  In this way, they lure people to the swamps.

You can redeem yourself from them if you give them a name.  The custom of naming victims is much older than the Christian rite of baptism.  So, according to mythology, the creation of the world, the astral lights, heaven and earth, beings and all things happened by naming them. Giving a name means giving life.  In the case of Poterchata - naming them gives them eternal life, helping to join them to the host of angels.

My Poterczata have names: Ivan and Maria.

2020

Size: 50x30 cm

Technique : Textile Doll, primed and stained, on a flexible wire frame, painted with acrylic paints.

One of a kind.

2020

Size: 45x25 cm

Technique : Textile Doll, primed and stained, on a flexible wire frame, painted with acrylic paints.

One of a kind.

Art Dolls Collection “Oh, my Bosch” is inspired by outstanding paintings by Hieronymus Bosch known as one of the most notable artists who was well ahead of his time and recognized as an precursor of surrealism.

My dolls are filled with sensation of attractive but dangerous magic of the most mysterious artist of Middle Ages. I was inspired by his famous monsters, the creatures with a head and legs only, used by Bosch very often.

I believe that they might be very intelligent to survive without a body - they also need to have a big sense of humor and to be very creative. Meanwhile they are all hunchbacks which means they bring a good luck.

I didn’t try to copy any of Bosch creatures. My task was to show my feeling, my own understanding of his world. I tried to show it by color, by shapes, by textures, by smiles, by fear and courage in their eyes. These creatures are chubby and funny, ugly and pretty, scary and attractive at the same time.

Hope you’ll like them as much as I like Bosch.