Swiss Wrestling: A Living Heritage

Before it became a competitive sport, Swiss wrestling was first and foremost a village festival. Under the tents and on the sawdust, wrestlers face one another with strength and respect, surrounded by families who share meals, songs, and stories. It is a moment of community, where tradition is passed on as much through gestures as through tales.

Swiss wrestling reaches back to the mountains, alpine fairs, and rural customs. At its heart is a vital idea: confrontation does not exclude fraternity. Wrestlers shake hands before and after each bout, and together they sweep the sawdust — a gesture that shows honor belongs to both.

In my drawings, I try to capture this dimension beyond physical effort: dignity, memory, collective identity. Each portrait is also a question to the viewer: what traditions do we carry within ourselves?