Tel Avivian Folklore

Tel Avivian Folklore | Lilia She | 2016

Series of posters made as Final Project

for Shenkar School of Engineering and Design, 2016.

Each poster combines elements of Urban Fantasy;

Range of city scapes with mythological creatures

brought to Tel Aviv by it's residents from abroad.

Cultural mixture of unseen magic across the city.

Persian, Russian, Chinese, Argentinian, Iranian,

Ethopian, Greek almost forgotten stories, lurking

in the most beautiful corners of Tel - Aviv - Jaffa, Israel,

but never noticed.

I figured they had a place to be seen.

Alkanost | Russia

Orthodox Russian Church

Botanical Garden

Hertzel Street, Tel Aviv.

"At Dawn, Alkanost flies around the Botanical Gardens and enchants the wanderers with her exquisite voice, luring them into exploring the beautiful area by the Church. Through out the day she helps lost inhibitants of the Zoological Garden find their way back to their home, when they loose themselves in the fuss on the edges of the big city."

Vodyanoy | Russia

Etzel Museum,

Retsif Herbert Samuel Street, Tel Aviv

"Vodyanoy been brought by the beliefs of Russian immigration.

Found himself a place to stay under an aged stone dock on Tel Aviv Beach.

There, he keeps company to his fellow fishies and tries his best to protect them.

Sometimes when fishing season arrives and he fails to take care of his friends his

tears wash over and lather the water into rushing salty waves of grief."

Moirai | Greece

Nahalat Binyamin Street, Tel Aviv.

"The three have come a long way from Greece and blended into an environment where their fatal deeds will go unnoticed.

Most of the days they weave, measure and cut their threads of life at home, but on tuesdays you can spot them in the corner of your eye, minding their own business behind a turn, looking closely on the lifes they take away."

Jinmenju| China

Yemenites Vineyard, Tel Aviv.

"Jinmenju don't have much to entertain themselves with, so everytime someone comes by they can't help themselves but laugh out loud from excitement caused by appearance of a random stranger. Sometimes, if one of the joyful faces laughs too hard, it falls of the tree and smashes on the floor. That moment the Jinmenju stop laughing and fall into deep silence, to remember the lost member of the family tree. Until the next exciting appearance or until there's noone left on the tree by the time that winter arrives."

Manticore | Persia

The Dajani Private Hospital,

Yerushalaim Avenue, Tel- Aviv, Jaffa.

"Manticore has been hiding in the Shadows of the once hospital on Dajani family residence for decades. Relieving his appetite now and then, these days less often, since he's trying really hard but barely succeeding to become a vegeterian. Here caught on his brunch break, lying in shadow of the central garden of Dajani mansion."

Chon Chon | Argentina

Flea Market, Tel- Aviv, Jaffa.

"Chon Chon came from a Chilian tribe which practiced black magic by applying ceremonial cream on their necks and detaching their heads from their bodies. When Chon Chon landed in Israel he couldn't help himself but to continue practicing old habits. Flea market sellers have seen it as an opportunity for a good bargain and now, Chon Chon spots thieves and reports them for a profit."

Zahhak | Iran

Satchmo Bar, Florentin

Vital Street, Tel- Aviv.

"Zahhak, after being banished to the mythical Mt. Damavand, fled to Israel and found himself on the verge of destitution, lacking his power and money as former king of Iran. His snakes hungry, himself starving. He decided to let off his pride and started working as a bartender in a local Florentin bar. A perfect place for his snakes to feed on fresh human brains after they have been intoxicated with various alcoholic beverages on the house. Nothing comes free indeed."

Bouda | Ethopia

Central Bus Station,
Levinsky Street, Tel Aviv.

"A pack of three eyed hyenas hang about the South Tel Aviv area when the stars light up the sky, they are believed to shoot fire form their eyes and eat christian children back in their home country. Here they are just trying to make through another night. As the sun rises, they shift back to their human form and each goes to work to support their families. Just as regular people do, until the night falls again and sky turn anything but regular again."