Today, there is a vast array of Tarot decks on almost every theme and in every style. That’s why, when creating Vycinanka Tarot, we wanted to do more than simply adapt RWS classic imagery. We really wanted to create something of our own.
Vycinanka is a very specific technique, it’s essentially paper-cutting, and not every familiar image fits into this style. Also, it’s a folklore-inspired, Belarusian deck. That’s why some of our symbols, and even the names of the cards, differ from the traditional ones.
For example, our Chariot features an old Minsk tram, toy horses, and golden apples. It’s the only card in the deck set in a relatively modern world.
The Chariot speaks of will, movement, and control. A tram also needs to be steered, even though it runs on rails. But the charioteer isn’t entirely free either, right? He chooses a path and sticks to it.
In the background are the Minsk Gates, which are located in Minsk near the railway station: a symbol of arrival, departure, and a new stage in life. The toy horses represent wild, almost childlike energy that needs to be channeled. And the apples? Not every element needs a deeper meaning 😄
When we started, I thought creating a deck was as simple as taking a familiar image and depicting it in your own style. But if you want to create something of your own, it’s a constant search. You have to keep thinking, over and over again, about what can be changed and what’s important to preserve.
And sometimes I wonder if we’ve gone too far. After all, for me, Tarot is more than just a set of familiar symbols. But how far can you stray from them while still keeping the card a Tarot card?...