Atelier Carigiet

From the village square Schlans a road leads down to Trun. The painter Alois Carigiet owned a studio in Flutginas, a small hamlet on the edge of this street. Alois Carigiet (1902-1985) was undoubtedly one of the most popular painters of the whole century. His children's book illustrations, above all the figure of "Schellenursli", are known to millions of people in many parts of the world. After training as a decorative painter in Chur and working as a successful graphic designer in Zurich, Carigiet returned to his homeland. In the hamlet of Platenga on the terrace of Obersaxen, the artist found the necessary peace and seclusion. Here he developed his self-taught style of representation, which finally led to success. After another stay in Zurich, the painter settled in Flutginas. He expanded the grandparents' house into a spacious studio on his mother's side. By inhaling toxic fumes during previous work, Carigiet's health was badly affected. In addition, the painter suffered from his poor hearing throughout his life. He welcomed visitors in his hermitage openly and with his own cordiality. In Flutginas he created his last works, always surrounded by the beloved landscape of Cadi. Some traces of the great painter can be found especially in Trun. The stone fountain at the entrance to the village, the votive tablet in the pilgrimage church of Sta. Maria Licht, the façade painting on various houses or the Stations of the Cross of the old people's home testify to Carigiet's attachment to his home village.

(Recorded by Regiun Surselva)