wildermann
The title is inspired by Charles Freger's "Wildermann". In this book he documents the tradition of making and wearing masks, by indigenous people across the continents. When I was in residence in Sweden in 2020, his images inspired me to create some of my own (with the help of Frederike) "Wildermann"
July 2024 - In the Lötschental, Wallis Switzerland Tschäggätun is an old tradition, going back to the Middle Ages. During the period of Fasnacht (Carnival), when night falls masked figures with a frightening appearance, walk through the streets in Blatten, Kippen and Wiler, making noise with bells and rattle to scare off demons an other evil spirits, performing jokes and pranks. Despite this, they are seen as protective figures who drive away winter and welcome spring. Charles Freger depicted some of the traditional disguises they use. The name Tschäggätta or Tschäggättu (plural Tschäggättä) not only refers to the masks but to the whole outfit. Masks ("Larven") are cut out of the hard wood of Swiss stone pine or "Arve" (Pinus cembra), and haired with goat skin or animal hair. Dressed in goat or sheep skin, wearing cow bells runners shook up the community. In the old times masks were simple and straightforward, nowadays well trimmed and decorated, more fashionable... and do they run during the day as well:).
The masks they wear inspired me painting and reshaping mask portraits, using natural pigments, mudpaints, charcoal, water soluble wax pastels (Caran d'Ache, Swiss made) and watercolor.
In the dark late winter nights of Switzerland you can encounter Tschäggätta, in Sweden there are Trolls, giant forest dwellers, mysteriously camouflaged to match the trees and rocks where they live. Cunning tricksters, neither friendly nor aggressive, so be careful if you cross their paths in the woods.
.For more reading on the meaning and making, search Google for Tschäggättä, just a few ...
- Lötschentaler Museum - masks, tradition, katalog, book
- Website Erni Hüoter - on their origin, naming, making, etc.
- Website Edgar Droste-Orlowski - detailed Lötschental info, including way of the masks
- BBC - Masks come out in Swiss 'valley of monsters.
- Ignaz Bellwald (2013). Tschäggättä: ein Geheimnis bleiben sie : die Gesellen und ihre Bräuche im Lötschental, 496 pages. Kulturverein Chiipl. ISBN 3907099214, 9783907099216
- Konrad J. Kuhn (2016). Tschäggättä im Internet. Repräsentationen und Normierungen in medialen Diskursen über einen Fastnachtsbrauch im Lötschental (Wallis, Schweiz). In: D. Drascek, G. Wolf (Hg.). Bräuche : Medien : Transformationen. München 2016. S. 157-184.
Freestyle Tschäggätta masks
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