Eight Birds, Nine Maidens: Akkızlar
Shameless Tricksters: Karakızlar
“Know that in ancient times, when the sky was believed to consist of seven, seventeen, even thirty-three layers, the god Ülgen sat upon his mountain-like throne adorned with gold atop the celestial dome. Having created the universe, he withdrew there. He had nine sons and nine daughters. With the help of his sons and other messengers, he guided the kams (shaman priests), governing humanity from above. The clouds reflected the emotions of Ülgen.
Within the layers of the sky existed many realms. The carefree cuckoo bird became a minstrel for all, playing, laughing, and rejoicing with the Akkızlar. The nine daughters of Ülgen were called ‘pure’ (ak) for their divine beauty and purity. As muses to the shamans, images of the Akkızlar were painted on shaman drums and sometimes fashioned as idols sewn onto shaman garments. Only two of their names are known: Kiştey Ana and Erke Soldon.
There was also the underworld, ruled by Erlik Han. He governed evil spirits, sending his broom-bearing witch, giant mother, and the demoness Al Karısı to the surface in attempts to ensnare humanity. Within this belief system, our ancestors sought to establish balance between good and evil, often wavering between the two. Shamans were seers who facilitated this balance. Yet when passing through the gates linking the earth to the underworld, they risked falling into the snares of the Karakızlar. These nine daughters of Erlik Han distracted shamans with games and amusements, drawing them away from their duties. Though not truly beautiful, they were coquettish and seductive. Shamans who fell victim to them were ultimately slain by Erlik Han…”
In her latest exhibition at Pg Art Gallery, Can Göknil once again turns to Central Asian mythology, bringing the legends of Central Asia and Anatolia into the present through contemporary interpretation. Featuring the Akkızlar — symbols of goodness and beauty — alongside the Karakızlar, who represent evil and ugliness, the exhibition invites viewers into the cosmology and belief systems of our ancestors.
Titled Akkızlar – Karakızlar, the exhibition presents works in which Göknil combines scholarly research with artistic sensitivity, and will be on view at Pg Art Gallery from 2 October to 4 November.
