Happy New Year!
After posting the summary of my favorite photography series of 2017 a few days ago, I got so much positive feedback, that I decided to start the new year with a new pair.
Heaven and Earth
This series deals with heavenly and earthly topics and the unity of both. Because I noticed, that these are often just two sides of the same coin.
Hope you like it!
Fireworks
The traditon of lighting fires on New Year's Eve dates back to Germanic times. They expelled demons and evil spirits with deafening noise at the turn of the year. They used rattles, (threshing) flails and even whips. Later in the Middle Ages, people used timpani, trumpets, and bells to protect themselves from the devil's evil spirits and evil spirits in the New Year.
Since 1420 black powder was used when rifle shots were fired and firecracker were detonated. However, firecrackers were only detonated in the Barrock for entertainment. These so-called "Lustfeuerwerkerei" (fireworks for pleasure) were celebrated at the German princely courts in pompous festivals and were intended to showcase the wealth and power of the aristocratic house.
A Canadian-Indigenous Mask
This mask by the Canadian-Indigenous chief and artist Beau Dick was exhibited at documenta 14 art fair last year. I wrote an in deep posting about the masks of Beau Dick here.
Beau Dick's carvings often feature Dzunuk’wa, the “wild woman of the woods,” and her counterpart, Bakwas, “wild man of the woods.”
Bakwas is a stealer of souls. He lures his victims with poisonous food—toads, snakes, lizards, and maggots. Those who consume his offerings become Bakwas, forever trapped in the house of spirits. Dzunuk’wa is a cannibal. She lumbers through the woods, plucking out disobedient children and putting them in her cedar basket for later eating.
Here is an overview of part 1-16 of the series.
Thanks for watching!
