Hermitage St. Petersburg

While researching Russian folk art, Taselaar discovered ‘lubki’, folk prints widely used to educate and entertain. Lubki often depict religious stories or popular tales and are characterised by a simple yet rich graphic style. Taselaar found endless inspiration in the prints, which he used to develop his own visual story.

Taselaar's design sketches show his meticulous, narrative style. He elaborates on mediaeval tapestries, such as the famous ‘Tapisserie de Bayeux’, but uses the contemporary visual language of comics and games. For example, Peter the Great is depicted as an enormous mean cat (taken from a lubok) who is feared by the mouse people. Another image shows Saint Petersburg’s grand palaces, which were built on canals on the marshy banks of the Neva. The view of the palaces is derived from historical nautical charts.