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ItalianoUpdated on 29/02/2024
Zell am Ziller will once again host a traditional spectacle from 2 to 5 May - the Gauder Fest 2024. The centuries-old spring and traditional costume festival promises a unique blend of culture, cheerfulness and living history. Artist Patrick Bonato combines these characteristics in this year's Gauder Fest motif, which captures the various facets in the form of a comic drawing.
The Gauder Fest has been organised in Zell am Ziller for centuries. It has thus established itself as an important cultural event, which was also added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2014. Since 2017, a new original motif for the Gauder Fest theme has been created every year by a Tyrolean artist, reflecting the individual perspective of the creator. "This year's Gauder Fest motif successfully presents the incomparable diversity and lively atmosphere that characterises this festival every year. The idea behind the initiative with the changing subjects is to maintain a collection of artworks in which artists interpret the various themes of the Gauder Fest in their own way," says Martin Lechner, Managing Director of Zillertal Bier.
Andreas Rudigier, Managing Director of the Tyrolean State Museums, welcomes the presentation of the motif on their own premises: "The unveiling of the motif in the Tyrolean State Museums is a natural choice, as our institutions are themselves a centre for cultural diversity and artistic creativity. We work with art and culture here every day, which makes the connection to the Gauder Festival and its artistic subject particularly fitting and meaningful."
Creative interpretations of the festivities
The artistic interpretation of the subject is characterised by each artist's personal perspective on the multifaceted festivities. This diversity of views and creative approaches is reflected in a wide range of works that view the Gauder Fest from different individual perspectives. This year, the Gauder Fest theme was designed by Patrick Bonato, author of graphic novels and illustrator. He drew inspiration from his experiences abroad, where he found a deeper connection to the people by drawing on location. He also pursued this approach with regard to the Gauder Fest 2024 theme, sketching his first designs during the festivities last year. "One of the reasons for pursuing this journalistic approach when designing the motif for this year's Gauder Fest was to be able to approach the festival in an open and unbiased way," says Bonato.
Günther Dankl, an expert on the Tyrolean art scene and former curator at the Provincial Museum, emphasises how the focus this year is less on the external events of the largest spring and traditional costume festival in Austria and more on the visualisation of the individual visitor. "Captured in skilful black and white, Bonato brings the most diverse types onto the poster. In addition to the tent guests dressed in lederhosen and dirndls or traditional costumes, there are also those in suits, shirts, T-shirts with lettering or jumpers. Bonato puts phrases into their mouths in the form of speech bubbles, which the artist has picked up and noted down in the marquee or during the parade, but which could just as easily have come from other traditional events."
The special appeal of the Gauder Fest
"The Gauder Fest attracts thousands of visitors every year and is a major attraction for the region. 30.the fact that the Gauder Festival attracts over 1,000,000 visitors and 6,000 overnight stays illustrates the great importance it has for us," says Christian Daum, Managing Director of the Zell-Gerlos Tourism Association. A similarly strong response is also expected for the upcoming festival. Robert Pramstrahler, Mayor of Zell am Ziller, agrees with this assessment: "The Gauder Fest is more than just an event - it is a lively experience that presents the diversity of our culture and traditions in a harmonious harmony. With a rich programme of events, it delights a wide audience year after year. But you can also sense the social togetherness that makes this festival so unique. I can only recommend everyone to come and see for themselves and become part of this special atmosphere."
Further information about the Gauder Fest: www.gauderfest.at
Please send press accreditations for the Gauder Fest to nemanja.sever@pro.media.