Based in Tokyo, Japanese designer monde has created a new category of art and design—bookshelf dioramas. His wood inserts transform ordinary bookshelves into something magical and bring the feel of a Japanese back alley into your home.
Inspired by Tokyo, his work carefully mirrors the dizzying feeling of wandering the city’s back alleys. Monde has been working on the project for two years, using different materials to create the look and feel of the city. He’s even added lights to some models, which give a soft glow that emanates from the bookshelf. This newer model is also sized perfectly to sit between paperback novels.
[4-panel comic. January 2, 2019. Panel 1: People underestimate me because I’m small and mostly imaginary. Panel 2: But I’m good at what I do. Panel 3: And I want to share it with you. Panel 4: So please, for a second, imagine me.]
Q: What are kallikantzaroi? A: According to Greek folklore, they are malevolent black Christmas goblins.
Q: Christmas goblins? A: Yes. 353 days out of the year, they live deep underground, sawing at the world tree, so that it will collapse and destroy the world. But on the twelve days of Christmas they are given power to walk upon the surface. They forget about the tree, run out, cause mayhem, and kill people. Then on Epiphany (January 6th), they are banished from the sunlight and return to the black depths beneath the earth. They find the world-tree has recovered in their absence and are forced to spend another year trying to saw it down.
Q: Where do kallikantzaroi come from? A: Babies born between December 25 and January 6, when they reach adulthood, will turn into kallikantzaroi. At some point, on a black night during the Christmas season, the transformation will happen, they will shift into their new form, and try to kill their family and friends.
Q: Wait, I was born between December 25 and January 6! How do I avoid this terrible fate? A: Your mother should have placed garlic in your hair, then singed your toenails in fire until they were black.
Q: What if she didn’t? A: I hope you like black depths beneath the earth and sawing.
Q: How can I protect my house against kallikantzaroi during the Christmas season? A: Place a collander on your doorstep. The kallikantzaroi will try to count the number of holes in your collander. But because three is a holy number and they are demons born of black magic, they will not be able to count past two, and they will have to keep trying again and again until they give up and go away.
Q: What if I encounter a kallikantzaros when travelling outside the home? A: The kallikantzaros will ask you seemingly ordinary questions. To survive, you must include the word “black” in your answer to every question.
Q: Really? That’s it? A: Yes. By some sort of contractual obligation, if you always include the word “black” in your answer to every question you are asked, the kallikantzaros must let you survive.
Q: Can I just say a regular answer and add something like “and in case you’re a kallikantzaros, black”? A: This will prevent you from getting killed but is widely considered a black mark on your aesthetics. Try to put a little bit of effort into it.
Q: What if it’s dark out and I don’t know if someone is a kallikantzaros? A: This is obviously a major concern. I recommend including the word “black” in your answer to all questions, just to be safe.
