Igor Viktorovich Baranov is a painter and graphic artist. He is a member of the Russian Union of Artists. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1983 and graduated from the Graphic Faculty of the Ilya Repin St. Petersburg Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture (Academy of Fine Arts) in 2007. His graduation work was a series of 16 hand-painted etchings titled “Kalevala”. They were immediately acquired by the Scientific Research Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts for its permanent collection.
Louhi is a powerful witch. She swears to take revenge on the people of Kalevala. She transforms into a large bird and steals the Sun and Moon from the skies of Kalevala, instantly plunging the land into eternal darkness. Without the light of the Sun, crops fail and livestock die. Moreover, she takes fire from the homes of Kalevala people and sends horrible diseases on them.
The god of wind, Ukko, strikes a spark and gives it to the maiden of air, so that she might create a new moon and sun from it. However, she drops the celestial fire. Upon falling to the ground, it burns numerous swamps and fields, until it reaches Lake Alue, causing the water to boil. In order to protect other fish from the intense heat, a whitefish swallows the flame of Ukko. The whitefish is then eaten by a trout, which itself is subsequently swallowed by a gray pike.
Wainamoinen and Ilmarinen arrive at the shore of Lake Alue with the intention of catching the pike and returning fire to the hearths of Kalevala. The gray pike can only be caught with the assistance of the sea king and queen, Ahto and Wellamo. After the fish is caught and cut, the flame of Ukko burns half of Pohyola. Wainamoinen and Ilmarinen also suffer severe burns. They are healed through the use of spells, and the fire is returned to the homes of Kalevala.
The Sun and Moon in the epic poem “Kalevala” are not merely celestial bodies, but rather fully-fledged characters who participate in the narrative. The reader learns about their origin, and Wainamoinen has conversations with them. They serve as a source of light and warmth, and descend to Earth to listen to people playing the kantele.
After losing the celestial bodies, the heroes of
“Kalevala” attempt to make their replacements. Ilmarinen crafts a new moon and
sun, but cannot make them shine. Upon the request of Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen
creates a sword in order to free the real celestial bodies. The hostess of
Pohyola, fearing for her own safety, releases the Sun and Moon from the rock,
allowing them to return to the sky.
