ANDREJ GLUSGOLD

Kukeri are rural winter festivals in Bulgaria where colorfully masked men walk and dance through villages to scare away evil spirits with their costumes and the sound of their bells. They originate from prehistoric fertility rituals celebrated to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness during the year. There is no other country in Europe with such a richness of fantastic costumes varying from village to village. They are made of natural materials and animal skins by village families and cost up to 10000 euros. The psychedelic-looking shapes and colors fascinate me as a testimony of authentic folk art which has almost disappeared in most European countries. They remind us of our wild animistic roots and give an expression to the demonic forces which are hidden but still exist beneath the surface of our “civilized” behavior.