Wilder mann - Charles Freger

Charles Freger is a French photographer who has dedicated his practice to portraiture and the study of uniformed or costumed collectives. In his book, Wilder mann: Images of the Savage, he documents his travels to over 18 different countries in search of different cultures tales of the Wild Man.  The transition of man to beast is apparent in many different pagan rituals that have been passed down through the generations to celebrate the changing of the seasons, fertility,  life or death. Freger travelled to Austria, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Switzerland, Finland and Romania, documenting the wild men in colour in their natural habitat; some have more distinct features and can be recognised as bears or stags, but others are more fictional and otherworldly. In it, he discovers that the more north you go the more 'wild' the men become - such as the  Dondolasi and Zvoncari (bell ringers) of Croatia who have giant horns and animals masks with big tongues that stick out. The need to rediscover these almost lost myths and legends seems all to apparent in this digital age where less and less people are going outside into nature, and I think I am drawn to these images because they are like creatures from a children's book; they spark a part of my childlike imagination that I haven't thought about in a while. This project is an ongoing project from 2010 till now.

The costumes I am most drawn to in this series are the ones which are the most extreme in size or height, the ones with vivid and bright colour, the ones which oscure the face completely and the ones which made my laugh instantly due to a comical mask or pose. This could be because these are the ones that resonate most with my own work. 

Skoromati - Slovienia

These giant headpieces can weigh up to 15kg

Schab - Austria
The use of the multiple creates a bigger impact than if there was just one. 

Kurenti - Slovenia

Kurenti, Slovenia
The majority of these photographs are in daylight, in natural setting, yet nearly all of them were meant to be a part of a certain carnival or ritual, so it would be interesting to see them photographed whilst they are being performed in. Seeing this particular costume at nighttime would be quite scary and would change the meaning of it completely, as in the daylight it looks almost cuddly and welcoming. 

Nevesta Djolomari - Switzerland
These two images (above and below) are probably the most recognisable as humans in the series, as little has been done to change the body shape in anyway. They are both still comical though - the man dressed as a woman and the vegetables positioned phallically. 

Babugeri - Bulgaria
I love these because they are quite clearly where artist Nick Cave got his inspiration from for some of his 'soundsuits'. Cave recreates this form with brightly coloured material in the same texture and gets dancers to perform ritualistic dance routines in them. The idea of taking a form or a costume that is very traditional and using modern fabrics and processes to make it colourful and exciting is interesting to me, especially then if you then put it back in its original context (the outdoors for example). 

Surovichkare - Bulgaria
Heads on top of heads.. like a totum pole??

Survakari - Bulgaria 

Macinulla - Poland
This could be a good way to get rid of all the scrap material I have lying around the house, as it would create an interesting texture and be colourful. 

Chriapa - Russia

Cert - Croatia

Fighting could be an interesting idea for a performance?

Juantramposos - Basque Country - Spain

Trapajones - Spain

Schnappyviecher - Italy 

Cerbul in Corlata - Romania
This is a very simple way to cover the head and the body in its entirety, and exaggerate the length of the body. 

tschäggättä - Switzerland

Burryman - Scotland

Preview of the book