The Malachite casket / 2022

The Ural Mountains stretch from the North to the South over many thousands of kilometres, dividing the two parts of the world — Europe and Asia. As an area situated “between two worlds” and inhabited by numerous indigenous folks, Ural was the birthplace of a rich mythology. The Soviet writer Pavel Bazhov, fascinated by Uralic folklore, became the author of the famous collection of Uralic tales where reality and fantasy are intertwined. 

I travel around places where Pavel Bazhov’s tales took place and meet people who now live there. In fact, I am following the path of Bazhov — he travelled extensively across the Urals interacting with indigenous people. He was deeply interested in their lifestyle and stories passed down from generation to generation. By observing and talking to locals it is possible to explore those permanent archetypes that are part of any mythology. I would like to understand the changes of social landscape in this area and the continuing significance of tales and myths in modern life. A lot of characters in Pavel Bazhov’s tales had real and mythological prototypes. They are closely connected with specific geographical location, rooted in tales, mythology, and traditions. They stay faithful to their ancestral places, which give them support and fill them with strength. However, some heroes of Bazhov’s tales choose to wander and decide to leave their home bravely facing unavoidable obstacles and challenges. 

The idea of this project is a result of my reflections on the importance of the bonds between a human, his or her motherland, traditions and their continuity. All this turned out to be directly connected to the current events happening in my country, Russia, which I had to leave. Being pulled away from my home ground and familiar environment, I have to reinvent my idea of home and my values. 

Rakhilya, a resident of the Dautovo village on Lake Itkul in the north of the Chelyabinsk region. The two villages on the lake were historically inhabited by Bashkirs. The name of the lake is translated as "meat lake" or, according to another version, "sacred lake". There is a legend, which became the basis for the story by Pavel Bazhov: "Demidov's caftans”. The Ural industrialist, Demidov, was going to build a factory on the shore of the lake on the deposits of iron ore and cheat to take over the Bashkir lands. Residents of Bashkir villages worked at the plant, but they revolted because of their hard labor, killing several of the industrialist's clerks. Then Demidov decided to take vengeance on the Bashkirs by ordering that dead pigs' carcasses should be thrown into the lake in order not to let Bashkir Muslims drink the water.
Rakhilya, a resident of the Dautovo village on Lake Itkul in the north of the Chelyabinsk region. The two villages on the lake were historically inhabited by Bashkirs. The name of the lake is translated as "meat lake" or, according to another version, "sacred lake". There is a legend, which became the basis for the story by Pavel Bazhov: "Demidov's caftans”. The Ural industrialist, Demidov, was going to build a factory on the shore of the lake on the deposits of iron ore and cheat to take over the Bashkir lands. Residents of Bashkir villages worked at the plant, but they revolted because of their hard labor, killing several of the industrialist's clerks. Then Demidov decided to take vengeance on the Bashkirs by ordering that dead pigs' carcasses should be thrown into the lake in order not to let Bashkir Muslims drink the water.
Lake Itkul is mentioned in several tales of Pavel Bazhov and is closely associated with the Great Poloz - a giant snake that lives in the lake and is the guardian of the Ural gold. It was probably invented by the author, based on the rich soil of the ancient legends and tales of the Khanty, Mansi and Bashkirs.
Lake Itkul is mentioned in several tales of Pavel Bazhov and is closely associated with the Great Poloz - a giant snake that lives in the lake and is the guardian of the Ural gold. It was probably invented by the author, based on the rich soil of the ancient legends and tales of the Khanty, Mansi and Bashkirs.
Polina is the winner of a beauty contest "Miss Sysert 2021". Sysert in the Sverdlovsk region - the place of birth and childhood of Pavel Bazhov. Here he started to collect a folklore material and communicated with prototypes of the future heroes of the tales.
Polina is the winner of a beauty contest "Miss Sysert 2021". Sysert in the Sverdlovsk region - the place of birth and childhood of Pavel Bazhov. Here he started to collect a folklore material and communicated with prototypes of the future heroes of the tales.
The Urals is historically the main industrial region of Russia. The main wealth of this region lies underground, where mines produce ore, minerals and precious stones. In Bazhov's tales, the stone is the main symbol and simultaneously a given for the Urals, a stone kingdom compared to Central Russia. In his tales a stone is seen not only as a jewel, which can enrich a man, but also as a secret force that tests his strength.
The Urals is historically the main industrial region of Russia. The main wealth of this region lies underground, where mines produce ore, minerals and precious stones. In Bazhov's tales, the stone is the main symbol and simultaneously a given for the Urals, a stone kingdom compared to Central Russia. In his tales a stone is seen not only as a jewel, which can enrich a man, but also as a secret force that tests his strength.
Kostya swims in the Itkul Lake with geese. He lives in Yekaterinburg, but likes to spend all the summer at his grandmother's in the village of Dautovo on Lake Itkul.
Kostya swims in the Itkul Lake with geese. He lives in Yekaterinburg, but likes to spend all the summer at his grandmother's in the village of Dautovo on Lake Itkul.
Interior in the house-museum of Pavel Bazhov in Sysert.
Interior in the house-museum of Pavel Bazhov in Sysert.
Zilya and her husband Firdaus live in the village of Dautovo on the shore of Lake Itkul. "I believe it once was, even if it then turned into a fairy tale," says Firdaus, recalling the tales of Bazhov, which he read in his childhood.
Zilya and her husband Firdaus live in the village of Dautovo on the shore of Lake Itkul. "I believe it once was, even if it then turned into a fairy tale," says Firdaus, recalling the tales of Bazhov, which he read in his childhood.
Azov-Mountain became the setting for the tale "Dear Name", which was based on the folk tales about the girl, Azovka. She is considered to be the prototype of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain. According to the legend, the girl, Azovka, lives in the cave of the mountain. She mourns her dead fiancé and keeps his treasures. Bazhov himself believed that the most ancient image of the Ural mythology is the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, whose origin comes from the spirit of the area.
Azov-Mountain became the setting for the tale "Dear Name", which was based on the folk tales about the girl, Azovka. She is considered to be the prototype of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain. According to the legend, the girl, Azovka, lives in the cave of the mountain. She mourns her dead fiancé and keeps his treasures. Bazhov himself believed that the most ancient image of the Ural mythology is the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, whose origin comes from the spirit of the area.
Urals artist, Tatyana Panaioti, explores the themes of myth and ritual through the language of theater, performance and installation. She is interested in the practice of creating a personal ritual and its artistic reflection, in an attempt to capture the subjective perception of the spirit of locality.
Urals artist, Tatyana Panaioti, explores the themes of myth and ritual through the language of theater, performance and installation. She is interested in the practice of creating a personal ritual and its artistic reflection, in an attempt to capture the subjective perception of the spirit of locality.
An abandoned structure decorated after the tales of Pavel Bazhov. On the outside you can see images of lizards, inside there is a well. The lizard is a figurative embodiment of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, the keeper of precious rocks and stones - one of the central characters of Bazhov's works. The lizard is considered the image of the spirit of the mountain, which can point to deposits of copper ore, malachite and precious stones.
An abandoned structure decorated after the tales of Pavel Bazhov. On the outside you can see images of lizards, inside there is a well. The lizard is a figurative embodiment of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, the keeper of precious rocks and stones - one of the central characters of Bazhov's works. The lizard is considered the image of the spirit of the mountain, which can point to deposits of copper ore, malachite and precious stones.
Cossack Nikolai Deina. Bazhov's tale "Ermakov's Swans" tells the story of the life of the Cossack Ermak, who waged a colonization campaign in the Urals. "Now the main activities of the Cossacks are patriotic education of young people and protection of public order," says Nikolai.
Cossack Nikolai Deina. Bazhov's tale "Ermakov's Swans" tells the story of the life of the Cossack Ermak, who waged a colonization campaign in the Urals. "Now the main activities of the Cossacks are patriotic education of young people and protection of public order," says Nikolai.
A wooden idol based on the tales of Bazhov in the city of Polevskoy, Sverdlovsk region, where the writer lived for some time. Historically, the Urals was a place of paganism. In some tales, the writer uses the expression "old people”. This refers to one of the indigenous peoples of the Urals, the Vogul (Mansi), who believed that the spirits of their ancestors lived in the caves of the Azov Mountains. Even after the arrival of Russian settlers in the Urals and the construction of the Polevskoy plant, the Voguls did not forget their sacred place and came to the top of Azov Mountain to worship the souls of their dead ancestors. After reading the tales of Bazhov, local children wanted to find the treasures of Azov-Mountain. In 1940, metal and bronze objects were found at the top of the mountain, among which the most valuable were bird-shaped idols.
A wooden idol based on the tales of Bazhov in the city of Polevskoy, Sverdlovsk region, where the writer lived for some time. Historically, the Urals was a place of paganism. In some tales, the writer uses the expression "old people”. This refers to one of the indigenous peoples of the Urals, the Vogul (Mansi), who believed that the spirits of their ancestors lived in the caves of the Azov Mountains. Even after the arrival of Russian settlers in the Urals and the construction of the Polevskoy plant, the Voguls did not forget their sacred place and came to the top of Azov Mountain to worship the souls of their dead ancestors. After reading the tales of Bazhov, local children wanted to find the treasures of Azov-Mountain. In 1940, metal and bronze objects were found at the top of the mountain, among which the most valuable were bird-shaped idols.
A birch grove near the Bashkir village of Dautovo on Lake Itkul.
A birch grove near the Bashkir village of Dautovo on Lake Itkul.
Gypsy Donna and her sister, Lena, at a baptismal rite in the village of Stantsionny-Polevsky in the Sverdlovsk region.
Gypsy Donna and her sister, Lena, at a baptismal rite in the village of Stantsionny-Polevsky in the Sverdlovsk region.
A mass baptism ceremony in the village of Stantsionny-Polevsky on the Day of the Baptism of Russia. For 20 years on the Day of Baptism of Russia in the Knyaz-Vladimirsky church on the Chusovaya River, a rite of mass baptism was held, which at different times was attended by up to 500 people.
A mass baptism ceremony in the village of Stantsionny-Polevsky on the Day of the Baptism of Russia. For 20 years on the Day of Baptism of Russia in the Knyaz-Vladimirsky church on the Chusovaya River, a rite of mass baptism was held, which at different times was attended by up to 500 people.