Creativity within a tradition
Dymkovo clay toys are an old Russian handicraft. They are so colourful and joyful! However, the amount of figures and narratives is quite narrow, which is perhaps typical for every kind of folk art. It’s interesting to look into the ways the craftswomen who live in Kirov region express originality while reproducing a strict canon.
Firstof all, look at this particular photo. I found it in a Soviet encyclopaedia of Dymkovo art. Funny narrative, a musician (balalaika player) is riding a fish. I guess that’s some kind of pagan trace here.
Another example of the same plot is a toy I saw in the hotel where I stayed in Kirov. Look, the fish has a different (somehow even clever!) facial expression and is probably a pike, the boy plays accordion and wears a different hat. By the way, there is a fairy tale awhere a magic pike makes the wishes of lazy guy Yemelya come true.
The last one is a toy I bought as a souvenir. It is made by a craftswoman Valentina Plemyannikova. Look, the boy here plays the pipe and wears a kind of modern cap. The fish… is it a fish? Or is it a sea lion? And the way it opens a mouth makes me think of a duck!
I find that rules of traditional folk art here foster ways to become inventive! What do you think?
