Tajikistan

Artist: Swetlana Frank

* 1951 in Nau Tajikistan

1968-72: Studied at the Art School in Duschanbe (Capital of Tajikistan)

1972-82: Art Director at a Woman's Magazine in Duschanbe

1982-86: Graphic Artist for TV, Advertising and Womansmagazine

Exhibitions include:

Duschanbe, Tajikistan and Berlin and Memmingen

Interpretation

In keeping with an old tradition, figures depicting animals are sculpted out of clay for every public festival in Tajikistan. They are first dyed white, and then painted with colourful stripes and traditional designs. All figures have a place where two holes are located, forming a whistle, so you can make high pitched noises with any of the figures. Every child receives one of these to play with, and they run around all day whistling in the streets - you hear them everywhere during these festivals. Thelegend has it that the kids drive the ghosts away with their loud noise...

The Tajiki Buddy Bear is crafted with the pipe mentioned above in mind, and is painted in a similar manner. He is also wearing the traditional Tajiki garment - a "Tshapan" (a long coat made from silk fabric) and an embroidered cloth, worn around the waist.

Svetlana Frank

Sponsor: Mc Paper AG