The carnival in Venice is famous for its costume art. However, the most awarded costumes are not designed in Milan, Rome or Paris, but in the German town Close – by Hobby-Schneider, Horst Raack.
Horst Raack from the East Westphalian small town Close actually works as a goldsmith. His passion for costumes, he discovered, when he visited 15 years ago with his husband Jochen Schlüter for the first time, the carnival in Venice. Since then, he spends every free Minute in order to design costumes and produce. The techniques he has taught over the years. He has won the official costume contest at the carnival in Venice is already five Times. Often no one has yet managed. For Horst Raack and Jochen Schlüter, the year is divided into a time before the carnival and after the carnival. Often Horst Raack the last nights before the carnival work, to make things ready on time. His passion for costumes and his love of the Venetian carnival, he speaks in a DW Interview.
Deutsche Welle: What do you hope to gain from this year’s carnival in Venice?
Horst Raack: When my husband Jochen Schlüter and I are going to the carnival in Venice, we want to win also. The official costume contest “Concorso della Maschera più bella” is something like the highlight for us. But the competition there is huge, all the wonderful costumes show. And how it’s cut, there always depends on so many factors. In the first round, the audience votes, in the Finale of a star-studded jury to determine. Since everything is always possible.
What is the best Moment for you at the carnival of Venice?
Of which there are two. The most important Moment is actually, right after the arrival, when I open the suitcase in the Hotel, and then shows whether the costumes have survived the Transport of salvation. It is very bulky designs that I need to pack into their suitcases and crates and can only hope that during the flight, nothing gets broken. But the best Moment is when we present ourselves for the first Time in the costumes of the Public. Very private, we are moving costumes through the narrow streets and the Piazzas of the city. And when I see the enthusiasm in the eyes of the passers-by, as they stand, for us to admire and to take a photo ask, for me, this is actually the most beautiful Moment.
Costume designer Horst Raack to the carnival in Venice
What makes for the fascination of the Venetian carnival?
It is a very unique spell in the city. Actually, at any time, but to the carnival. And in comparison to the Cologne carnival or the carnival of Rio, it is in Venice in front of the costume art. I like that. The passion of the people for their costumes this formally. And here I can present my passion. I think that’s great.
They often work for years on their creations. You make all the costumes from the design to the execution itself. Where do you get the Motivation?
The Creative is in my blood. In my work as a goldsmith, I am also creative, but in first line according to the Wishes of others. Here I can work properly. Somewhere in the Creative Yes. And then flows into the costumes. Because I can’t always bring all of the ideas in a single costume, find the is often expressed in the headdress. The hats are something of a specialty of mine. The sprouting of ideas and richness of detail. This is, of course, insanely expensive. I often work in my entire leisure to the costumes. So for Venice, you have to have a bit of an ab wheel. But since it is in Venice. There are enough wackos in the same way. Goes always very well with the other participants, just because you share the same passion. We have also found a very good and loyal friends.
Horst Raack and Jochen Schlüter in her Studio, in Close
Where have you learned the costume tailors?
I have taught everything myself. I’ve always had a soft spot for it. And after we have experienced about 15 years ago for the first Time, the carnival in Venice, I thought to myself, I want to do also. And it started small. And every Time a new idea, a new technique was something more. I was worried then, even time, historical patterns, and anything and everything a try. In 2009, we participated for the first time with the official costume contest, and promptly won. A total of five Times, we have now achieved the first place. In the case of my costumes, I always use very different materials. Sometimes there are very high quality and expensive materials, but often also quite cheap, simple goods. Or everyday materials from the hardware store. For the headdress of my current costume I cut up, for example, table sets made of plastic, and they are so draped that they look like a hairstyle in the Marie-Antoinette-style, and this seems to be made of glass.
The interview was conducted by Hendrik Welling.