All sewn up
Chastushkas could have been called Russian haiku were they not so shamelessly
obscene.
Silent raven in a quiver
On a birch upon a river
......................
.....................
An innocent, somewhat meditative scene pictured the first two lines does
little to prepare you for the grotesque
finale. A good lesson of humble contemplation: never say you know what is
happening in the next moment.
The embroideries by Maria Arendt are named by first lines of well-known
chastushkas. Similarly to those little
poems, they are fraught with surprise and ready to ridicule those who judges
from the first impression. They look
simple to the degree of minimalism, but that is because they do not tell the
whole story. Those who know, know.
Some may smile and exchange glances, some pull a face of indignation. It is,
however, wise not to overreact. It is as simple as that:
Fish in thick tomato sauce
Floats in happy comatose.
Only me, pathetic whimp
Have no f***g place to swim
