This work explores complexities of myth and evolution of conception of home. Baba Yaga is morally ambiguous in Slavic folklore, often represented within the Mother, Maiden and Crone. A guardian of the fountain of life, often eating those who wish to exploit it, she lives in a cosy hut that resides on chicken legs, able to take her wherever she desires.
The houses are based on her childhood home. Nostalgia, place, evolving relationships, childhood and whimsy are explored. The scent is inspired by Hansel and Gretel, the most infamous iteration of Baba Yaga.
The legs are hand cut and assembled from copper, similarly to paper dolls, a nod to nostalgia and obsession for the artist. The houses are hand cut and assembled, working from memory. The moving elements are collaborative, with Miguel (@migumind) doing programming and mechanical elements.
The light within the houses bounces off the detritus, acknowledging the chaos and disorganised nature of memory. We are within the worlds of folklore and eeriness that comes with stories from growing up, and changing perceptions of ourselves and others that occur as we grow.
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Working in contemporary spheres with a focus on sculpture, metalsmithing and jewellery, Evangeline McGowan Braithwaite is an emerging contemporary artist. Through her work, she explores nostalgic influences, familial links and interpersonal relationships.
A keen interest in folkloric narratives, engaging with family histories as well as ancestral lineage is evident throughout her body of work. She aims to convey a sense of mysticism and whimsy, playing within the world of the uncanny.