Evening in the Meklenburg forest. It was sort of a ‘rebound’ painting which I made in order to recover emotionally from my previous work, which I have, so to speak, botched completely. About this I may talk some other time…
It is a small piece, only 22x32cm, and depicts my favorite place and motive – forest.
It is a place in Meklenburg, German Budesstadt in the north. I loved the way light was reflected on the leafs and the way road looked very purple that evening. It was middle of the summer and the light was a perfect magician with colors.
Speaking of magic, in the nature usually my fantasy goes crazy. I grew up on a folk stories and fairy tales which depict at least five types of spooks, monsters or fantastic creatures for any type of environment imaginable. Until I was five I believed unshakeably that forests are habituated by ‘Hejkals’ – forest trolls covered completely by long fur howling through night they cry which sound like long ‘heyyyyyy, heyyyyyyyy!’. I was even sure I have seen one myself.
Even though I do not believe in Hejkals anymore, I enjoy folk stories more than ever. And I must say, Witcher completely stole my heart. But believe it or not, it was not a book series, it was not a Netflix Series, it was a video game Witcher 3, especially its extension Hearts of Stone, which completely took my breath. The depth of characters, the graphics, the wit, and mostly the root in fairy tales and classical stories like Faust! That thing is a pure masterpiece!
Painting this picture, of a lovely Meklenburg forest, I have been watching a Witcher series. Man, was I absolutely disgusted! All that poetry, all the original ideas and non-conventional characters, all of that is gone! It is suddenly completely normal fantasy story which resembles to me more Game of Thrones than a work of genius which Witcher game certainly is. What a disappointment.
My first complain is directly about Geralt. However I admit, this one is purely personal. I just do not find that he has a Witcher’s charisma. Geralt was not meant to be a pretty boy, nor a cynical version of Legolas. Geralt’s impersonation by Henry Cavill is missing something essential and turns Witcher in just another fantasy Bond-like figure with a though looks and witty comments. I find it sad.
If I call Gerald’s casting and script sad however, there is no strong enough word for me left to express my feelings about Yennefer of Vengerberg. Oh my Gosh, they have scripted completely different person! How on Earth did that cold, calculating, manipulative, bossy, arrogant and argumentative woman become such a hot-tempered, emotional, impulsive and loud young girl? Acting aside, this is not Yennefer! In the game she has been portrayed like a unique, pretty deep character with a pieces of her past being revealed slowly, explaining to us what has made her into a woman she is. What Netflix has served us on the other hand, was resembling more an idea about how an empowered woman should look like according to the latest fashion in the film industry. I disliked that a lot.
Not even mentioning that Slavic spirit of story origination in Polish roots has been literally murdered by Netflix. Nothing from the folk mythology has been kept or sensibly portrayed in the series. Now it is literally just another violent fantasy with sexy scenes. Yay.
I hope getting emotional did not stir my work into a wrong direction, luckily during painting emotions usually rather help me. But I am not going to forgive Netflix that soon for what they have done to my favorite piece!
And how about you, what are your thoughts on the matter? Leave me a comment! Also if you wish and have not done it yet, don’t forge t to visit my Gallery and check out my other works!