About
Skekkler is an artist from Shetland covertly working under the guise of their namesake (in true skekling style!) to honour and celebrate Shetland’s language and intangible heritage, through contemporary practices.
The artist known as ‘Skekkler’ chooses to use a variation of the spelling ‘skekler’ to pay respect to the origins of the culture (leaving it undisturbed as its own entity) whilst branching out with a contemporary means of honouring the tradition.
Skekkling
Skekling is an ancient Shetland guising tradition with Norse roots, that takes place within Shetland from Winters Sunday (14th October) until the end of January (a time now celebrated by Up Helly Aa).
Identities obscured, dressed in suits with sculptural hats made from oat straw, Shetlander’s disguise themselves as skeklers and visit the homes of unsuspecting hosts, bringing with them an unnerving and unsettling presence - full of music, dance and mystery - that is to be welcomed with good faith in return for good fortune…
