Children in Surva

2009 - 2018

digital phototgraphy, photography on b&w film

Children in Surva are portraits of children taking part in the traditional Kouker or Mummers' dances. Unlike the adult participants who knowingly enter into the merry, frightening and raging character of a mummer, the children take part in the dancing in a much more spontaneous way. This is why they often deviate from the planned script and surprise with unexpected behaviour, movements and facial expressions. As the mummers costumes are heavy and cumbersome, the children avail themselves of every opportunity to take off their masks. In these moments of rest their expressions are spontaneous and diverse. Some of the captured emotions set the children apart and suggest that there is a contemplative spiritual aspect of the rituals that go deeper than the collective merriment.