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. The specific Fasnacht (Carnival) tradition on the Lötschental, Wallis, Switzerland, inspired me painting and reshaping mask portraits, using natural pigments, mudpaints, charcoal, water soluble wax pastels (Caran d'Ache, Swiss made) and watercolor. The name Tschäggätta or Tschäggättu (plural Tschäggättä) not only refers to the masks but to the whole outfit in which people are running at night through the streets in Blatten, Kippen and Wiler in the Walliser Lötschental. Its a very old tradition, going back to the Middle Ages. Masks ("Larven") are cut out of wood of Swiss stone pine or "Arve" (Pinus cembra), and haired with goat skin or animal hair. In the old times masks were simple and straightforward, nowadays well trimmed and decorated, more fashionable...
In the dark late winter nights of Switzerland you can encounter Tschäggättä, 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 ...