A series of dark illustrations to the stories of Ukrainian urban legends was created as a student work for a course at the Projector Institute.
The inspiration and unifying element of the series was the atmosphere of old horror films of the 50s, in particular the strong contrast between light and dark, which creates an impression of depth and dynamics.
It is important to note that the task had a limitation: it is not possible to depict the hero of the story directly, only to hint at his presence with the help of available means of expression.
An illustration of the urban legend of Ivano-Frankivsk about a mysterious vampire who lived in one of the graves of the old cemetery and hunted lonely people passing by at night.
This illustration is dedicated to a mythical character from ancient Ukrainian legends — Blud.
Blud in Slavic mythology is an evil spirit that leads a person off the right path, misleads, makes him wander or circle around one place.
Everyone who went to the Carpathians met him. He is always waiting for people, and no one knows when they will become his victim.
Here you see the castle of the bloody countess Erzebet Báthory, known for her cruelty in the 16th century. She committed a series of murders and tortures, believing that the blood of young girls would help preserve her youth.
When the truth about her crimes became known, she was imprisoned in her castle and spent her last years walled up in her rooms.
This is an illustration of an urban legend about a haunted park in Odesa. Once upon a time, this place was an old cemetery that was demolished to build a park.
After that, strange things began to happen in the park: according to local residents, the park has an eerie atmosphere at night, and the spirits of the dead wander around in search of their graves. It is said that the ghost of the famous silent film actress Vera Kholodna was seen here more than once, asking passers-by to help find her grave.
And this is the Dead Stairs in Odesa. An urban legend tells of a mysterious place in the very center of the city where men disappeared. It is said that they were killed by a local old maniac, and their bodies were used to make minced meat for pies, which she sold to tourists at the local market.
