LAPOT // Men // Added 2009/11/21 at 10:19

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„Lapot“


The concept of this collection is based on a popular Serbian tradition; it is the story of the Serbian custom of killing the old people when they were unable to move and/or when they become a burden to their families. This specific ritual was named by the Serbian people: Lapot.
The ritual was a solemn affair and was announced in neighbouring villages, “‘In this village, from this house there will be Lapot, the people are invited to the wake’. To the ceremony at which the old man or woman was to be killed, everyone wore their best clothes including the people who were going to be killed. An important aspect of this ritual was that the old people were not reluctant to die; on the contrary they were ready and willing to submit themselves to the custom.”- Mr. S.Trojanovich(Anthropolog ist)
Lapot was normally performed in the forest next to a big tree. The household would prepare bread which was placed on top of the man or woman’s head; the oldest son of the family would hit the father over the head with a hammer while saying, “I am not killing you, this bread is.”
In further research, I found references in Slavic mythology in which the ritual killing was present. I discovered a cult dedicated to the God Veles (a major Slavic god of earth, water and the underworld). There were several descriptions of glorious costumes worn by the God made of silver (The Book of Veles). Slavic mythology is based largely in understanding of the origins of Slavic culture. Myths and legends reveal a peoples’ innermost character, feelings, fears and desires. Thus, to understand the nature of Slavic culture in its entirety, one needs to look to Slavic mythology as it existed before the existence of Christianity. I also incorporated a variety of elements connected to the rituals surrounding funerals, such as making the ritual breads, and presenting the clothes and possessions of the deceased person.
The custom of Lapot, although it is not practiced any longer in Serbia, has been preserved in its original narrative and visual context. Lapot is currently transformed and adapted to contemporary society, becoming independent through the development and construction of forms, figures, motifs, mystical objects and statements, temporal codes of society, space, and functions of protagonists. The collection embraces a system of signs, symbols and beliefs from my homeland. It also comprizes elements of tribal and local beliefs, as well as influences from different religions. My collection contains traces of clothing taken and transformed into a new interpretation while maintaining a base in narrative, visual harmony, artistic character and aesthetic value.