Originally vampires were used as a representation of diseases and death, corpses of outcasts come back to drain the life of healthy loved ones. However, over time, as cultural fears changed, vampires became figures of power, counts and lords, draining the life out of their communities.
My goal as a researcher is to gain a better understanding of Hungarian monsters and then to inspire a new age of monsters in my costume workshop that I am running this spring at a local fine arts high school: Jelky András Applied Arts High School. Here the students will learn about monsters from both Hungary and around the world, research and design their own creature, and then assist in bringing their creature to life through the art of costume making.
I am so excited to bring you all along for this journey, exploring monsters and folklore from around the world and hopefully brainstorming and designing your own creatures. I'll also be bringing you along to learn about adjusting to living in a foreign country and have you join me in my adventures around Hungary. You'll also get a special insiders look at the costumed festival of Busójárás in Mohács, Hungary. So stayed tuned and stay curious as we explore Hungary, monsters, and so much more!
