At Rottingdean Windmill Sat 26–Sun 27 July
We spoke to Suzanne Rolfe, creator of the unique Wilde Volk exhibition at Rottingdean Windmill next month.
What was the inspiration behind Wilde Volk? I was first struck by the book Wilder Mann by Charles Fréger. It’s a deep dive into pagan rituals across northern and eastern Europe. The photographs of masked figures, animalistic, even demonic – wearing bells and costumes crafted from feathers, fur, branches and foliage
– haunted me.
The book inspired me to travel with Melita Dennett. We began with Krampus in Austria, then the bear dances in Romania, and Bulgaria’s Kukeri festival in Pernik. We tracked down these rites through old-school research and word of mouth – there’s no single website listing them! Along the way, we photographed and recorded everything.
And you curated these images into the exhibition? Yes – five festivals in total. Krampus, which takes place in Austria and Germany; Perchtenlaufen, which is in the Tyrol/Alpine region of Austria; Buttmandle and Kramperl in southern Germany; Surva, which is held in Pernik, Bulgaria; and Ursa, which is north-eastern Romania. We’re also privileged to include images from National Geographic photographer Ivo Danchev, whose Kukeri shots are world-renowned.
How will it look inside the windmill? It’s primarily a photographic display lining the circular walls. We’ve invited a collective called Spirit of Gravity – electronic musicians who’ve transformed our field recordings of bells and drums into new soundscapes, which play as visitors move around.
So it’s a multimedia experience? Exactly. Plus, local artists are contributing physical pieces: Jeff Kazimir is crafting a stained-glass Krampus, and Woody is building a willow version. They’ll stand in the windmill’s centre, anchoring the photos and sound.
What about accessibility? We know the windmill’s stairs limit access, so we’re filming a guided tour upstairs and uploading it to YouTube. That way everyone can experience the exhibition. Free entry means accessibility to all.
