Fairy-tales are a constant ingredient of all cultures. They inform and describe a culture because, among other things, fairy-tales mirror social norms and solidify those norms by virtue of their distribution. This distribution is primarily by way of oral tradition. The Grimm Brothers have collected fairy-tales from various sources in order to consolidate them in writing. This is how Grimm’s fairy-tales have become a literary and cultural point of reference in Europe and in countries of European influence.
One thing connects the Grimm tales with those of other cultures and thus indicates the existence of universally felt norms. I mean those archetypical narrative and material elements, that often figure in dreams as well, which are used for personification of good and evil or for indicating a transformation, like the good or the bad fairy or the apple that takes on a catalytic function in a transformative process.
Like any good story, when it is told well, fairy-tales incite images of their narratives in our heads. They stimulate the imagination and are supposed to sharpen our judgment through their exemplar character. Katerina Belkina allowed herself to be inspired by the tales to create her interpretation of them. Her images, as far as their permanence is concerned, are to be situated between the written and the oral tradition. On one hand they obviously visualize the story, on the other they do not limit the viewer in his / her imagination. The images continue in one’s mind and one can thus become a Dream Walker. In a time when cultural identity is taken very seriously, it is important to find common ground and roots. This is what Belkina’s works allow and what makes them historically and in current discourse so highly relevant.
One thing connects the Grimm tales with those of other cultures and thus indicates the existence of universally felt norms. I mean those archetypical narrative and material elements, that often figure in dreams as well, which are used for personification of good and evil or for indicating a transformation, like the good or the bad fairy or the apple that takes on a catalytic function in a transformative process.
Like any good story, when it is told well, fairy-tales incite images of their narratives in our heads. They stimulate the imagination and are supposed to sharpen our judgment through their exemplar character. Katerina Belkina allowed herself to be inspired by the tales to create her interpretation of them. Her images, as far as their permanence is concerned, are to be situated between the written and the oral tradition. On one hand they obviously visualize the story, on the other they do not limit the viewer in his / her imagination. The images continue in one’s mind and one can thus become a Dream Walker. In a time when cultural identity is taken very seriously, it is important to find common ground and roots. This is what Belkina’s works allow and what makes them historically and in current discourse so highly relevant.
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Katerina BelkinaCook, little Pot, Cook, 2021Photography, Digital Painting180 x 130 cm
70 7/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Sweet Porridge by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThe Hunt, 2020Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Seven Ravens by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThe Spell, 2020Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Crystal Ball by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaAuspice, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Three Little Men in the Wood by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaBird Catcher, 2019Photography, Digital Painting120 x 93 cm
47 1/4 x 36 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Jorinde and Joringel by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaBlooming, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Snow-White and Rose-Red by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaComing, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Three Spinners by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaCut Lilies, 2019Photography, Digital Painting180 x 130 cm
70 7/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Twelve Brothers by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaFrau Holle Portrait, 2019Photography, Digital Painting100 x 100 cm
39 3/8 x 39 3/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Frau Holle by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaFrau Holle. Silence., 2019Photography, Digital Painting180 x 130 cm
70 7/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Frau Holle by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaHer, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 107 cm
51 1/8 x 42 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: King Thrushbeard by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaHim, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 107 cm
51 1/8 x 42 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: King Thrushbeard by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaImminence, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Sleeping Beauty by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaLiberality, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Star Talers by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaLittle Rapunzel with a Fresh Shoot, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 130 cm
51 1/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaLost and Found, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 130 cm
51 1/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Cinderella by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaObsession, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Snow White by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaOffering, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 130 cm
51 1/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Seven Ravens by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaPremonition, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaRosamond, 2019Photography, Digital Painting180 x 130 cm
70 7/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Sleeping Beauty by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaRosekiss, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Snow-White and Rose-Red by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaRunaway, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Hansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaShedding Stars, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 130 cm
51 1/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Star Talers by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaStepmother, 2019Photography, Digital Painting180 x 130 cm
70 7/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Snow White by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaSweet Dreams, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Blue Light by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThe Blessing, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Cinderella by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThe Deal, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 130 cm
51 1/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Frog Prince by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThe Gift, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Snow White by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThe Promise, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Frog Prince by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThirteenth, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Twelve Brothers by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaThree Moments of Rapunzel. First., 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaTrinity, 2019Photography, Digital Painting130 x 130 cm
51 1/8 x 51 1/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: The Three Spinners by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaTwo Towers (Triptych), 2019Photography, Digital Painting and Drawing106 x 600 cm
41 3/4 x 236 1/4 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: King Thrushbeard by Brothers Grimm -
Katerina BelkinaWhisper, 2019Photography, Digital Painting140.5 x 187 cm
55 1/4 x 73 5/8 inchesEdition of 3 plus 1 artist's proofDream WalkersFairy Tale: Frau Holle by Brothers Grimm