IRA OKSMAN

Artist Statement

Ira's work is rooted in the clash between the Pagan Slavic culture and Christianity inspired by the early avant-garde art movement.

The symbolism of a red horse is a prominent character in the Slavic folklore signifying good fortune, wealth, an ally and a savior. For men, traditionally, the relationship with their horse was as important as that with their own wife. The horse took care of them, did their bidding, and fought by their side.

In the beginning of XVI hundreds, women in the Russian villages were wearing Horned Kichkas. It was said it protected their family against evil. In a way, identifying themselves as the Satan the mother warded the danger off. It was also the sign of strength and agency, a mother as the protector and the one to be feared.

The Kichkas were later prohibited by the Orthodox church, which famously fetishized the superiority of men. From their perspective a woman, like horse, was viewed as a commodity rather than someone with agency and their worth was largely attributed to the children they birthed. If the children were deemed satisfactory, the woman was regarded. If they didn't turn out good, she was shunned.

Satan Mare is a woman. She smokes and the smoke births Cloud Horses. Some of the Cloud Horses are good. Some are innocuous. Some are evil, they burn down villages and kill livestock. The villagers blame the Satan Mare because it's from her breath where the evil originates. Yet Satan Mare does no evil, she merely smokes.