In light of a recent lecture about the ethics of interacting with other cultures I started to rethink my research methods. I think it would create much richer work if I was to create a dialogue with a person who is involved in some way with the person or culture that created the original research topic. This got me thinking about a piece I did in first year which I sent to Nanavut as I thought that that was where it belonged, having been derived mostly from a tradition of that area. I like the idea that each object has a destination where it is meant to be and how that could change the object depending on whether it is/isnt there. Im curious to know if an object can make its way to its intended destination by its interaction with people. With this in mind and also still with a mind that tends towards narrative and monsters I remembered the Krampus. As far as I know he is a monster from the folklore of the Alps. He is an accomplice of sorts to saint nick. If youve been a bad girl or boy at christmas then rather than get presents from saint nick you get taken away by the terrifying Krampus. He reminds me of the scare tactics of Strewelpieter who Im quite interested in too, perhaps because they are designed to manipulate behaviour. In more recent times the Krampus has started being celebrated on the 5th of December, when peoploe dress as the Krampus, threaten children and whip young ladies with branches. The use of a folklore animal disguise as a means of spanking young girls is also reminiscent of Tanooki and Selkies. However, I can only know so much from where I am so the next thing to do is to find a correspondant who can give me a better idea of who the Krampus is and what they do. Perhaps then I could create a piece that is intended to live in the Alps.
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