Oracle
Art Direction and Styling
See the process
“If ‘religion’ is seen in terms of inherited structures and institutional externals . . . spirituality has become a term that firmly engages with the feminine, with green issues, with ideas of wholeness, creativity, and interdependence, with the interfusion of the spiritual, the aesthetic and the moral”
King, Anna S. “Spirituality: Transformation and Metamorphosis.” Religion 26:343–51. 1996.
Photography by Mona Lee
I was always interested in the areas of human existence where finding a balance seems to be problematic and determine the areas and symbols of art and design, where a balance was found.Here is some of my research and findings
This project is a continuation of my interest in connection between nature, cultures and art.
Our goal was through styling and image quality create a series of images with idea/concept of woman oracle/shaman, using a different elements of nature: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Flora, Fauna, where the union or integration is natural and harmonious.
Many cultures in Central Asia and Siberia showing a close connection to nature. This connection can be seen in the patterns, designs and materials of the living spaces, handicrafts, and, of course, in traditional and ceremonial costumes. For example, the traditional shaman’s costume, even with variations in some areas was created to look like a bird.
While researching Khakassian traditions (southwestern part of Eastern Siberia, where my father’s heritage is from), I found that
in Khakassian culture shaman (and many other cultures in Siberia and Asia) is a middle man between world of humans and world of spirits, a messanger.
Styling was intened to be in bold colors, strong textures to an impression of a particular nature element. The red dress I used for styling is a particular impotant element, as it is a traditional Khakassian womens dress from late 1800’s and has a big meaning to me as a connection to my father’s culture.
