A gifted artist Nikolay Mastin founded an art school in the village of Podlesnaya Tavla in 1979 on the basis of a school woodcarving club. Under his guidance, the carvers created a unique kind of sculptural style, based on the everyday traditions of rural life.
The art of the Tavla carvers unites realistic conventionality, full of keen observations, humor, a sly chuckle, and folk wisdom. The principle of their work is not in the trivial copying of the storyline, but in the creative processing of what they see through their own perceptions. The theme of the ethnic history of the Mordovians is of great importance in the work of the carvers. It is especially well and vividly displayed in the works of Nikolay Ivanovich Mastin.
“Ritual Mask” is a work based on folk tales and legends. Similar masks were used during ancient rituals. After the ritual, the mask was usually burned. According to folk beliefs, masks facilitated contact between the real world and the beyond. Long strands of bast running down both sides imitated hair. The image of the solar sign, a symbol of the solar element, emphasizes the connection with the supreme patron Chipaz, the sun god. Similar signs were found on wedding par’ chests.
The style of carvers from the village of Podlesnaya Tavla is distinguished by the use of the natural properties of wood as expressive means, as well as the grotesque transfer and conventional interpretation of the image. Having developed their own style and individual creative method, the school of woodcarving in Tavla preserves the rich traditions of the Mordovian people. Referring exclusively to the national character types, telling about the hard work of the Mordovian peasantry, the carvers contribute to the preservation and development of folk art.
Nowadays the school of woodcarving is known far beyond the borders of Mordovia, and wooden toys from Podlesnaya Tavla are considered a trademark of the republic and one of the regional brands. The works of talented Tavla carvers have rightfully won prizes at inter-regional, all-Russian and international exhibitions.
The art of the Tavla carvers unites realistic conventionality, full of keen observations, humor, a sly chuckle, and folk wisdom. The principle of their work is not in the trivial copying of the storyline, but in the creative processing of what they see through their own perceptions. The theme of the ethnic history of the Mordovians is of great importance in the work of the carvers. It is especially well and vividly displayed in the works of Nikolay Ivanovich Mastin.
“Ritual Mask” is a work based on folk tales and legends. Similar masks were used during ancient rituals. After the ritual, the mask was usually burned. According to folk beliefs, masks facilitated contact between the real world and the beyond. Long strands of bast running down both sides imitated hair. The image of the solar sign, a symbol of the solar element, emphasizes the connection with the supreme patron Chipaz, the sun god. Similar signs were found on wedding par’ chests.
The style of carvers from the village of Podlesnaya Tavla is distinguished by the use of the natural properties of wood as expressive means, as well as the grotesque transfer and conventional interpretation of the image. Having developed their own style and individual creative method, the school of woodcarving in Tavla preserves the rich traditions of the Mordovian people. Referring exclusively to the national character types, telling about the hard work of the Mordovian peasantry, the carvers contribute to the preservation and development of folk art.
Nowadays the school of woodcarving is known far beyond the borders of Mordovia, and wooden toys from Podlesnaya Tavla are considered a trademark of the republic and one of the regional brands. The works of talented Tavla carvers have rightfully won prizes at inter-regional, all-Russian and international exhibitions.
