Khthon is a project dedicated to Slavic mythology and its bestiary, viewed through a contemporary lens. Three artists chose to capture it in all its variety.
In the metaphorical cards, three elements coexist: red—fire, green—earth, and blue—water.
The cards will not offer you definitive answers, but they will be a faithful companion. You will have to dive into the depths of your subconscious and decide for yourself what is good and what is evil (or perhaps discover something else?). Maybe you will see familiar outlines within them.
The analysis of Slavic chthonic beings revealed that none of them can be definitively labeled as good or evil. In any case, each possesses diverse facets and behavioral motivations. It is this ambivalence that the authors find productive for developing metaphorical maps—it allows for the creation of something greater than the product of magical thinking.The complexity of the characters, reflected in the illustrations, opens up space for interpretation. If you are uncertain about a particular reading, you can refer to the brief messages in the appendix, which gently guide without imposing definitive answers.
Character division by elements emphasizes their connection to nature and creates an associative field accessible to each person’s unique understanding. A limited color palette allows focus on the content and intensifies the arising emotion.
Ira Litvinova @lyraryn
Alina Meshcheryakova @alimesha.a
Sorokina Ulyana @magpie.u
Red: Alina Meshcheryakova @alimesha.a
Blue: Ulyana Sorokina @magpie.u
Green: Ira Litvinova @lyraryn
