2-channel electronic, fixed media
2011
The title of Bayu-bayu comes from a popular Russian lullaby Bayu-bayushki-bayu:
Russian:
Баю-баюшки-баю,
Не ложися на краю.
Придёт серенький волчок,
Он ухватит за бочок
И утащит во лесок
Под ракитовый кусток.
English translation:
Baby, baby, rock-a-bye
On the edge you mustn't lie
Or the little grey wolf will come
And will nip you on the tum,
Tug you off into the wood
Underneath the willow-root.
Transliteration:
Bayu-bayushki-bayu,
Ne lozhisya na krayu.
Pridyot serenkiy volchok,
On ukhvatit za bochok
I utashchit vo lesok
Pod rakitovy kustok.
As with many lullabies, the song is meant to be soothing and help one sleep, however, the meaning of the text has a darker undercurrent. My work explores the dream-state of restless sleep and includes quotes of the above melody. This piece was influenced by Yuriy Norshteyn's 1979 film Skazka skazok (Tale of Tales).