OI Magazine - N° 34 - October 2023

76 OI magazine in the Dolomite forests, the artist already envisions the shapes and features of her future creations, giving life to truly unique dolls. A Centennial Legacy Judith’s Gardena dolls serve as a bridge between the past and the present. With her skill and passion, Judith has preserved an ancient tradition, bringing it into the twenty-first century. These dolls, composed of 18 pieces and crafted through 100 steps, are unique, each bearing a small feature that distinguishes it from the others. They come in various sizes and can even be worn as jewellery, such as bracelets or earrings. The most surprising feature of these dolls is that they are undressed. Judith wishes for their owners to give them names and choose their attire, encouraging interactivity and creativity. An Art That Goes Beyond Sculpture Judith Sotriffer does not limit herself to creating these extraordinary dolls but is also a devoted scholar of Gardena toy culture. She has organized exhibitions, conducted research, and collected antique toys, contributing to the preservation of this precious cultural heritage. In 2018, she curated an exhibition that compared Gardena toys with Russian toys, highlighting the similarities and differences between these two distant traditions. Despite the passage of time, Judith Sotriffer continues to shape Gardena history and culture through her unique creations. Her dolls are much more than mere objects; they are a bridge to the past and an expression of her passion for Gardena art and tradition. Through Judith’s hands, the centennial legacy of wooden “popes” continues to amaze and inspire.

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