Fascinated by the German tradition called Walz, the photographer of Italian origin Chiara Dazi offered the public in Chisinau the possibility of seeing the pilgrimage by German craftsmen (journeymen) from inside through a photo exhibition at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History that will continue until November 17, IPN reports.
The photographer said that during a year and a half, she accompanied a group of wandering craftsmen and craftswomen who, according to tradition, live a nomad life and carry with them only a light bundle with bare essentials for their journey that lasts for three years and a day. In the period, they practice their craft and gain new skills. During the trip, the craftspeople cannot come closer than 50 km to their own homes if they haven’t’ finished the Walz journey.
Of the European countries, this medieval form of travel by craftspeople survived only in Germany. Nowadays, women can join journeyman brotherhoods too. Around ten percent of wandering craftsmen are now women.
Corina Garla, director of the German Cultural Center Akzente, said the exhibition shows the medieval journeyman pilgrimage when members walk around the world for three years after completing apprenticeship as craftsmen. For the Center Akzente, this exhibition forms part of a workshop that will host an exhibit of Moldovan photographers at the National Museum of Ethnography on November 17. These photographers, in cooperation with Chiara Dazi, will depict the world of Moldovan craftspeople.
The Museum’s scientific secretary Varvara Buzila said she is glad for the young photographer Chiara Dazi, who respects a very old tradition of the German people, being of Italian origin. “We see an excellent example given by young people who know to synchronize their lives with cultural traditions and to give them a new expression,” she stated.
Ambassador of Germany in Chisinau Ulrike Knotz said the Walz is practically intangible cultural heritage in Germany. “This tradition inspired German arts, literature and music. It’s definite that a Europe without artificial borders opens up spiritual horizons and physical possibilities for mounting an exhibition like this. There are many possibilities of defining Europe. One thing is yet clear: Europe has always been a Europe of curiosity and connection. The people wanted to know what was there in other places and set out on travel to learn from each other at professional and human levels. For German craftsmen, the Walz has always been a process of individual learning and personal maturation. No one returned the same as when leaving,” stated the diplomat.
The exhibit “Wandertage – Travelling for work and working for travelling” by Chiara Dazi was staged by the German Cultural Center Akzente in concert with the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History and was supported financially by the Cultural Affairs Department of the Senate of Berlin and the Embassies of Germany and Italy in Chisinau.
