mother's tales
"Mother's Tales" is Dzen's journey through Russia's regions in search of folk stories passed down from generation to generation. Each video features folklore, traditions, and the voices of those who preserve our country's cultural heritage.
Buryatia
The heroines of this episode, sisters Olga and Irina Ertakhanov, artists and illustrators, create digital art inspired by family stories, ancient legends, and folk tales. The girls have always felt a deep connection to their family history and ancestors. But it was after studying in Britain that they began to see their own culture in a new light, as if seeing it for the first time: more vibrant and dimensional.
Dagestan
Artist Patimat Guseynova is our guide to the multilayered and incredibly fascinating culture of Dagestan. In her native republic, Patimat is often called the "fiery artist." This is due to a tragedy that occurred in her early childhood. Patimat miraculously survived a fire, but lost her beloved grandmother. Her first works grew out of this pain: the fire repeatedly erupted onto her canvases as a bright, disturbing red.
Karelia
Ceramic artist Mariika Eikalo is one of those who finds Karelia inspiring her daily. Her works celebrate the subdued northern landscapes, local folklore, fairy tales, and myths. She became our guide to the world of Karelian fairy tales.
Mari El
Our guides into the world of Mari folklore and musical tradition were Ivan Kamenshchikov, a musician and multi-instrumentalist, and his wife, Anastasia. They recently welcomed a daughter, Vesta. To introduce Vesta to Mari culture, Vanya and Nastya tell her Mari fairy tales, many of which reflect the ancient beliefs of the Mari.
Yakutia
Margarita Popova, our guide in this series, grew up in the city, but was always drawn to the history of her ancestors, who came to these lands from a reindeer herding camp. One day, Margarita heard from her father the story of her fifth-generation great-grandmother, Kyndykan. Nearly two hundred years later, her remarkable story inspired Margarita and writer Lidiya Tarasova to create a fairy tale about a courageous girl who survived.