Rasmus Myrup, Salon des refusés; 1646, The Hague

left: Elli, right: The Nix

Which old mythological or legendary local creatures do we know in the Low Countries? They are certainly no longer widely known.

Saggy Tits

We live in an age that the Werewolf has been replaced by the real wolf.

Queen Omma

But who still knows the Witte Wieven, Ellert and Brammert, the Roggemoeder, who knows Blauwe Gerrit or the Bokkenrijders? These were once characters who embodied our fears, ou insecurities and our link to nature.

Forest Bussy

However, after having survived their competition with Christian saints, kings and emperors they have now been replaced by game characters and real-life sports, political and cultural figures whose fame is spread throughout the world by modern media.

The Bitch

Now we can pray to them, curse them, fear them and be insecure about them to our hearts content. But fears and insecurities are still the same and their old personifications are still looming while we have forgotten them, forgetful as we are.

left: Lake maid, right: Leaferess

They may linger in the rustling branches of the thicket, in a muddy pond, in a creaking loft, in a rain cloud, in the places you don’t pay attention to because you are constantly looking at your eye-phone; the real world around you is too unsettling.

left: Shoe-Ella, right: Hervard

Rasmus Myrup (1991) has collected some of these ancient creatures from Nordic folk tales and has given them a new material appearance. Ever heard of Kællingen, of Mjölkhara, Sjöjunghen, or even of Slattenpatten?

left: Giant, right: Forest Executive

Haven’t you?

left to right: Syn, Yule Goat, The Milk Hare

Well, currently they are more or less present in 1646. Myrup has given them a new life with different materials which are part of their regions of origin.

left to right: Queen Hoe, Merthem, Idun, Nisse, Gefion

Be respectful though, as there are two queens among them: Omma and Hacka.

Lindworm

And you may not feel welcome at all. As soon as you enter they stop their conversations and their mumblings and wait for you to leave.

Lantern Lad

Bertus Pieters

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Contents of all photographs courtesy to Rasmus Myrup and to 1646, Den Haag

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