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Pazyryk culture is an Iron Age archeological culture (circa 6th to 3rd centuries BC) whose artefacts were mostly found in the Altay Mountains. The visual elements at the heart of this ornament are the oldest in the Ornamika database, and the most ancient ornamental motives of such quality and complexity ever found on the territory of Russia.
Realizing the uniqueness of these objects and the symbols they contain, we decided to not only keep their original hues and patterns, but to also imitate the woven felt texture.
A talented artist Yana Kuznetsova suggested a very beautiful idea of combining the symbols of objects that are similar in properties and history into an integrated ornament for the whole region.
The objects in the Ornamika database can be viewed in greater detail at the links:
During the first stage, all of the symbols were outlined and filled with colors close to the originals:
At the next stage, we created the composition, added the texture of the original objects and also decided to add some “by-lines” to the ornament, using them to create a perception of the cross between an ornament and an improvised moodboard of a visual investigation.
The diluted colors of the principal elements are used as potential backgrounds.
We proposed the use of the ornament as the decoration of Altay’s tourism infrastructure objects. We would like to thank Forest and Sea Altay, a unique holiday camp, for the photo used in the mock-up.
In the last stage of the experiment, we developed a simplified color version of the ornament that expands its applicability:
Principal features of interpretation:
Composition: This has been changed. A transition to a new composition was made from the stand-alone elements. Since the majority of pictograms were originally used in non-symmetrical compositions, we also created an “accidental” order that imitates a moodboard for research.
Elements: Preserved.
Rhythm: Preserved.
Color scheme: Preserved and the overall composition was stylized in a unified color scheme.
Depth / relief: Preserved, the ornament imitates the original felt or tufted texture of the elements.
Original Pattern(s)
Description
Author of interpretation
