Slavic culture is immense and sometimes contradictory world of folklore, with a large number of linear and horizontal plots, characters, who are strange and paradoxical in their actions, with dual morality, which can be totally lost at some point. Russian artist and photographer Uldus Bakhtiozina revamps the image of Russia’s best-loved fairy-tale characters and symbols of Russian culture through her photo project, called “RUSS LAND”. She does not simply copy illustrations with ancient Russian dress and wear the obvious kokoshnik (headdress). She refines these images, adds her own vision and value. In core of that crafting, lays analysis of Russian folklore in a different ironic way, but with all the respect to origins.

The main rule is to create a picture close to its nature without using any graphic editors or retouch tools. To highlight greater past, all photographs made with medium format camera and Kodak film. That’s why they are so realistic, even illustrating supernatural, they make us believe that all these creatures are existing nearby… maybe they really are…

From the Author: “They are all dreams: every picture is a fantasy, inspired with fantasies from slavic folklore and fairy tales. It’s escapism - that’s what it is. Not so much the portraiture, but the set pieces definitely are fantasies and I think that the model or the sitter in a picture is the window for the viewer - for any person - to be a part of that fantasy. I am asking them, inviting them, to enter into that, whether it’s dark and sinister mood or a beautiful scene from the same fairy tale. All of my heroes - for me they hold a type of beauty that is challenging a cliché.”