Pictured: 'Cerbul din Corlata', Romania (left); 'Certi', Czech Republic (right).
French photographer Charles Freger travelled across 18 European countries over two years to document the regional interpretations of the "wild man" ritual dress. His anthropological quest translates into a collection of striking portraits capturing centuries-old crafts. Beautiful, inspiring, and sometimes frightening, the costumes made of animal skins, bones, or local plants, reveal a fascinating aspect of myth and tradition in the Old World.
This is the first time that Charles Freger's work is on view in New York, thanks to the sponsorship of the Hermes Foundation. Established in 2008, the Hermes Foundation supports the latest creations of contemporary artists at a global scale. The exhibition is hosted by the Hermes flagship store on Madison Avenue, and a different selection of photographs is also being displayed at the Yossi Milo Gallery, in Chelsea.
'Charles Freger: Wilder Mann', at The Gallery at Hermes (691 Madison Avenue, 4th floor, New York; 212-751-3181). Open 10am-6pm daily. Through June 8. Free. Complementary exhibition at Yossi Milo Gallery (245 Tenth Avenue, New York; 212-414-0370). Open 10am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday. Through May 18. Free.
