bad •ones
bad o n e s â—†
Szymon Wiatr 2012-2014
All drawings and texts © by Szymon Wiatr Sources: Leksykon symboli, Hans Biedermann, Warszawa 2001, translated by Jan Rubinowicz, original title: Knaus Lexikon der Symbole, München 1989, 1994, 1998; Wikipedia, own sources of the author Proof: Julia Schleier Rewiever: Adam Rokowski •
Copyright © by Szymon Wiatr, 2014 1st English edition
My websites and fanpages: S zymon-Wiatr.strefa.pl ar -F utura . pl S zymonWiatrF oto on Facebook S zymonWiatrF utura on Facebook
b ad o n e s â—†
drawings
why bad ones The series of drawings named Bad ones presents animals that arouse negative associations which have been formed by the European culture over many years. Writing „European culture”, I think about all its different ages and layers, including those that date back to ancient times. In the selection of animals for this series I was also guided by regional circumstances as I want to show animals that are known in my home country, Poland. Stereotypes about some of the animals that appear in my series are already obliterated to some extent in our common consciousness. For example in the cases of the boar and – especially – the bear.
In these days we do not live close to the wild nature and have almost no contact with wild animals. So we look at them differently – differently than our ancestors who were arming themselves before going into the woods, to collect mushrooms or berries, for the event of meeting a bear or a wolf. On the other hand, our perception of, for example, a bear (and also a cat) is strongly influenced by the contemporary popular culture, where we can find a lot of positive bear and cat characters. Who does not remember hugging a teddy bear in his childhood? But there is still another purpose of collecting "bad" animals in one series. It is not only a memory of beliefs and superstitions of our ancestors, but also an attempt to inspire people to reflect on the ill of these "bad" animals. In England, wolves were exterminated already in 10th century. Does the removal of an animal, which functions as a rich, wildcard symbol, from the collective consciousness of a big group of
people have any influence on the development of the given society? And if so, how does it work? How does it change us that we are – step by step – changing the surrounding wildlife in an – more or less – ordered, safe garden? Another interesting problem is the comparison of our perception of wild animals and their domestic relatives: boar – pig, wolf and fox – dog. How much negative associations are aroused by pig and dog, how many phraseologisms – referring to ascribing the characteristics attributed to them – do we have in Polish and other languages? And on the other hand there are no, or not that many, surnames directly referring to the words "pig" („świnia”) and "dog" („pies”). In Poland there is no person with the surname Pies ('dog'). In the case of cats it is a big different. As there are less negative associations, the surname Kot ('cat'; fairly common in Poland) is more frequent. Returning to the problem of a comparison of our relation to wild animals and their domesticated
relatives: the quantity of phraseologisms and hackneyed associations that are related to the given animal, can suggest how long ago it has been domesticated. That is why we can guess that we domesticated a boar earlier than a wolf or a fox. And even though the wild relative of a pig still appears quite numerous in Polish forests*, we threw our "interest" on its domesticated relative. My drawings do not explain all details of the bad perceptions of some animals, but I hope that they inspire the spectators to some reflection and research, maybe even to own studies. In my opinion this is very important because studying the condition of our relation to animals and wild nature can bring us a step closer to the knowledge of truth about ourselves. Anyway, it was not my intention to use the way of showing these animals for reflecting negative values that are ascribed to them. The poses in * in last 12 years its number increased from 118 to 255 thousands.
which they are and the character of drawing stay neutral in this issue. Last but not least I have to mention that the animals which are presented here also have their "good legend". But this album is called "Bad Ones".
Szymon Wiatr
4th May, 2013
viper
Polish word "zmija" ('viper') has the same etymology as Serbian "zmaj" ('dragon'). The viper shares its bad reputation with the snake. Scadinavian Jรถrmungard, that encircles the Earth with its body, is an enemy of the Order. In Europe the snake is regarded as a personification of the Devil, and also as an impure creature, that associates a phallus. In colloquial language it is connected mostly with negative qualities: cunning, hypocrisy and prevarication
bear
As a dangerous animal, the bear sometimes epitomizes the Devil’s power. The fight between young David and a bear which is mentioned in the Bible is regarded as an announcement of Jesus Christ’s victory over the forces of darkness. Psychoanalysis associates a bear with dangerous aspects of our subconsciousness
bat
In iconography the devil is depicted with bat wings, because he is afraid of light just like a bat. The bat was also a symbol of hidden envy that does not dare to appear openly in daylight
boar
In ancient times the boar owned qualities of a brave warrior, but also features of a monster that strikes with awe. It has been described by the following words: acer ('violent'), ferox ('vehement'), ferus ('wild'), fremens ('growling'), fulmineus ('lightning'), rubicundus ('rash'), suevus ('rabid'), spumans ('foaming at the mouth'), torvus ('dangerous'), videntus ('brutal')
fox
In many cultures the fox is a symbol of cleverness and shrewdness. It appears in numerous tales and legends
raven
In the European culture the raven arouses mostly negative associations, primarily as a source of bad predictions. In the Christian Europe the raven became a symbol of a slave of mundane pleasures that delay his conversion, as a raven crowing "cras, cras" (Latin ’tomorrow’). The raven has also been accused of thieveries and of neglecting its chicks. In German, the term "raven mother" means ’villainous mother’. In Iceland it is said that children should better not use raven feathers’ quills as straws if they do not want to become thieves
wolf
In Christianity the image of a wolf definitely used to be negative. St. Augustine, one of the Church Fathers, interprets Jesus’ words from the Gospel of John (J 10, 12 and J 8, 44) as follows: And who is a wolf? Isn’t it the Devil? After all, from the very beginning it was a killer"
cat
In medieval Europe the cat was exterminated as animal related to witches. A trace of these beliefs survived until today in the superstition of black cats that are responsible for bad luck
rat
Since the times of mass pestilences, especially since the Great Plague of London, rats were suspected – partly legitimate – of spreading plague and other epidemics, That is why rats have a very bad reputation in European culture
toad
The toad usually arouses disgust and aversion. It was even suspected of causing scabies. In folk beliefs the toad is a demonic, contemptible creature, a comrade and delicacy of witches, a being that can blight. Toad is a relative of frog which has similar and also very bad reputation
mole
One of the least liked garden guests. Since the Polish language has the popular expression Polish language "mole’s job" which is used to describe backstage operations calculated for someone’s collapse, it is a synonym of sabotage
pig
The Polish language has many expressions that are based on pig’s bad oppion. Pig are associated with mess, deceit and even with physical and mental dirt
me
I am a human being. Mankind is one of the worst-doing species in the world and I am its representative. I eat cow, chicken, pig and other animals. I own a car, use coal to heat my house. I use too much electricity. I produce tons of garbage. I have a few nasty traits and habits. I do not have good reputation. So this series is also a place for me
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bad •ones
Last but not least I have to mention that the animals which are presented here also have their "good legend". But this album is called "Bad Ones"
Š Szymon Wiatr 2014 all rights reserved