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Siberian shamanism & Sakha people in Yuri Sleptsov’s scratched drawings. Fine arts.

Bolot — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:11:06 +0000

Yuri Sleptsov, a Siberian artist based in Yakutsk, Russia

Hereby I present Yuri Sleptsov‘s art works. His drawings are done on a plastic board with the use of a scalpel. Such a technique is called scratchboard or scraperboard (grattazh, in Russian). Learn more about it on Wiki.

Yuri prefers to use the plastic, as it provides the sharp contrast between white lines and the black inked background. This technique is used very rarely. The drawing might be created in the course of several weeks, months or even year. A hard work. One little mistake might spoil the whole art piece.

Yuri Sleptsov started drawing in the scraperboard style in 1991. Since that, he participated in many various exhibits and was awarded for originality and fine technique.

He didn’t graduate any arts schools. Yuri used to be an economist, retailor, auditor. Currently, he is devoted to ethnographic researches. Does a lot to keep Eveni children’s summer nomad camp in Momsky region, North-East Yakutia.

Once Yuri said to me that his grandmother was a female shaman, one of his grandfarther (through farther’s line) was also shaman. Well, I am not surprise to feel some power in his artful images.

Mandar Uus (Boris Neustroev), a famous Sakha writer from the Tattinsky region of Central Yakutia.

Brothers.

Old Sakha man.

An American professor Correl.

A Siberian laika puppy and a butterfly.

One more thing. To support his children’s summer nomadic school in Momsky region, Yuri Sleptsov accepts orders for drawings. You can buy some from him or send your picture to be done in the scratchboard technique.Similar Posts:

70 Travel Photos: Reindeer Sledding w/ Even Herders in Oymyakon, Siberia, Russia

Bolot — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:17:26 +0000

In February, as you might already know, I experienced just a magic reindeer sledding expedition across valleys and rivers of Oymyakon, East Yakutia, Russia’s Siberia. With the Even nomad family of the Cherkashins. Well, it was a sort of expedition to me, but not to reindeer herders. They considered two-day travel as a regular neighbourhood visit.

No more words from me. Enjoy 70+ photographs.

More about Oymyakon reindeer sledge trip at my other blog AskYakutia.com.Similar Posts:

Yakutian horse riders in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia [photos]

Bolot — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:43:10 +0000

Hereby, I am publishing Yegor Makarov’s photographs of Yakutian horse riders from different horse trekking expeditions across the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Russia’s Siberia.

Yegor Makarov is a successful businessman, who lives and runs the Muus Khaya entertaining complex in Yakutsk, Russia. His big addiction is to travel across his vast homeland, and he is a big fan of the Yakutian horse, Yakutia-orginated horse breed.

Currently, he is making a documentary and a book about the Yakutian horse. Meanwhile, he shares his passion with you.

Photos were taken during his expeditions to Verkhoyansky and Oymyakon regions as well as across Verkhoyansky and Chersky Ranges.

See the episodes of Yegor Makarov’s Yakutian horse documentary. More his photos are available in posts tagged under his name Yegor Makarov.Similar Posts:

KAMAZ truck drivers before the last winter road run in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia

Bolot — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:34:44 +0000

Yesterday I took photographs of how truck drivers – Michael Zakharov and his four sons – were preparing for this year’s last long run on the winter road from Yakutsk to Srednekolymsk, Kolyma area of North-East Yakutia, Siberia, Russia.

A long ride, indeed, and very risky. Around 2500 km on one way through the Kolyma federal road (settlements of Khandyga and Ust Nera) and the Arctic winter road (Ust Nera – Sasyr – Zyryanka – Srednekolymsk).

The whole two-way trip, as Michael said, will take approximately 15 days. This is the period when ice on rivers starts melting and water overflowing, though the current weather over there in Kolyma is like -15C in a daytime.

The most challenging is a part between Sasyr and Zyryanka with high passes through Ulahan Chistaya and Chersky ranges.

This time 51-year Michael is driving on two KAMAZ trucks with his 27-year son Pavel.

Michael’s two sons, Misha in the middle and Daniel on the right. A friend of theirs on the left.

A guy in a cap with a camera is Ben, California-based film maker, who is a big fan of truckers.

Similar Posts:

Osuokhay, Sakha Round Dance Beyond Time & Space [video+music]

Bolot — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:22:56 +0000

Mira Maximova is a talented Sakha composer, who currently lives in China. Many might know her as a YouTuber ExUmira2. On her channel there are a lot of songs written and performed by her. A few years ago China closed the access to YouTube and now she can’t upload her new songs.

Recently she sent me the song Osuokhay, Sakha Round Dance Beyond Time & Space and asked, if I can post it on the website. Sure, Mira. That’s what I am doing now. Moreover, I made a slideshow with my photographs.

Further find information on the song dedicated to the Sakha traditional round dance known as Osoukhay.

Song: Mira Maximova.
Leading voice: Alex Montyro.
Photos: Bolot Bochkarev.
In pictures: Osuokhai during Stroganina Festival in Yakutsk, 12 Dec. 2009.

Dance Description:

Universal unity of people is symbolized by round dance with singing of Osuokhay, meaning existential circle. Dancers sing and move slowly with the motion of the Sun, as if following constant flow of life in time and space and giving the contribution of gratitude to heavenly bodies for their light and warmth given to people of Earth. The dance proceeds continuously till morning; in past Osuokhay has been sung for three days and nights. It is considered that everybody in a circle is charged with energy for the whole year. The ritual symbolizes the birth of Universe and Man.

Lyrics:

Oh-huo-oh-huo-oh-huo-khuy!
Eh- hey-eh-hey-eh-hey-kay!
I’m so honored here today!
To be with you all and say!

We are starting Osuokhay!
The roundelay of Sakha!
Let us speak out from the soul!
Our best regards to all!

May your inner mind be free!
May your breath be long and deep!
Always live your life in peace!
Live your life in harmony!

And let all-embracing Love!
Melt the ice inside your heart!
Make your body strong and hard!
Make You beautiful and smart!

Let deep wisdom grow up!
Wisdom that lives deep inside!
May you be from now on!
Good-looking, clever and strong!

May you always live in peace!
Let your mind be clean and free!
Let us wish to all our friends!
Kind regards and all the best!

We all dance and sing today!
Universal roundelay!
Dance is energizing us!
It is filling us with love!

We all have to realize!
That the Universe is one!
It wants love from all of us!
So space could be lighten up!

We are having round dance!
And the light surrounds us!
Due to our dance today!
The world became a better place!

So, My Friends, I want to say!
Let us change ourselves today!
Let us try to do our best!
To live lives with no regrets!

Oh-huo-oh-huo-oh-huo-khuy!
Eh- hey-eh-hey-eh-hey-kay!
Let us wish to all our friends!
Kind regards and all the best!

Dom!Similar Posts:

Olga Monastyreva and her dreams in paintings [photos]

Bolot — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:53:10 +0000

Olga Monastyreva is a contemperary Yakutia-born artist, who lives currently with her beloved in Belguim. In the town of De Haan, they’ve got the fine art gallery “Artepol” (www.artepol.be). Btw, the gallery is depicted in her penultimate painting.

See how fascinating her paintings are. Inspired by Russia’s Siberian republic of Yakutia, her far-away cold wintery homeland. Olga spent her childhood in the town of Khandyga located on the Aldan River in the eastern part of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia.

Once Olga described her canvases as Dreams. They look that way, indeed!

Saying a lot of thanks to Olga for allowing me to publish and share her art works. Feel free to spread a word about her and the gallery Artipol.Similar Posts:

Juliana’s fascinating video “Uhuktuu” (Awakening). Yakut khomus music!

Bolot — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:32:40 +0000

Juliana in her video Uhuktuu. Performed by khomus, a Yakut musical instrument.

This is Juliana. She performs music by the Yakut musical instrument called Khomus.

Juliana is well known in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia. By the way, she started her career in the first team of Albina Degtyareva’s Ayarkhaan female ensemble.

At present, she performs solo and sounds powerful and looks effective.

Watch her video clip “Uhuktuu” (Awakening), listen to mp3 and see screenshots in high resolutions.

Video’s idea & direction by Kristina Guide.
Created by Reka (River) Production.
Release time: Spring of 2011.

Listen to the soundtrack (mp3):

Juliana – Uhuktuu

High resolution screenshots:

The post is dedicated to the Day of Khomus celebrated on Nov. 30th annually. Actually this year we have such an event for the first time.Similar Posts:

President Dmitry Medvedev in Yakutsk to open the railway branch line in N. Bestyakh

Bolot — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:34:55 +0000

A railway station in Nizhnyj Bestyakh in front of Yakutsk on the opposite bank of the Lena River. Photo by Dmitry Medvedev.

Yep, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Yakutsk. He arrived right from Hawaii this night.

The purpose of his official visit is to discuss the issues related to housing and communal services and participate in the opening of the last constructed branch line of the railway Berkakit – Tommot – Yakutsk in the settlement of Nizhnyj Bestyakh. This place is located in front of Yakutsk on the opposite bank of the Lena River.

Amazing! The half of the day I had been waiting from local journalists for any photographs of the event, especially of the Nizhnyj Bestyakh event. But… it appeared to be Dmitry Medvedev, who took a picture and uploaded it on his Twitter account @MedvedevRussia.

President Medvedev said that the railway must come to Yakutsk via the bridge over the Lena River, not through the tunnel.

This photo was lately delivered by a Russian news agency.

The below photo was taken by me right after the lunch time in Yakutsk…

Russian President's cortège on Lenin Square in Yakutsk. He is in that dark minivan. They were heading to the Yakutsk office of ALROSA.

Btw, today’s weather is as low as -30C. Warm!Similar Posts:

Yakutia in a 5-min video presentation. W/ subtitles in three languages

Bolot — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:46:17 +0000

This is a 5-min video about Yakutia!

Its creators tried to do the impossible… to show all images of the vast diverse region called Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Think, they succeeded, but, frankly, such a hard mission won’t be possible to do ever.

No more words! Watch Yakutia!Similar Posts:

None Found

Ysyakh, Yakut National Summer Holiday, in Yakutia, Russia. Video by V. Moonkuev.

Bolot — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:14:05 +0000

A short video is dedicated to the biggest Yakut national holiday called Ysyakh (Yhyakh). Celebrated annually in June.

Created by Vladimir Moonkuev. Music by Sasha Lukin.

No words. The video conveys all the message. Enjoy! Certainly, you’re welcome to Yakutia in summer!Similar Posts: