THE THOUGHT OF VISITING THE DANCE MACABRE IN PLAUS MAY AT FIRST SEEM GLOOMY. IN 2001 LOCAL ARTIST LUIS STEFAN STECHER FINISHED HIS DANCE MACABRE FRESCO ON THE OUTER CEMETERY WALL OF THE CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS IN PLAUS – IN PLACE OF THE ORIGINAL AND NO LONGER PRESERVED ONE.
Over 18 colorful panels, a total of 36 meters long, Stecher shows that death is the great equaliser: regardless of age, guild or status, it invites everyone to a final dance. Stecher often uses local traditional motifs: for example the famous “Kårrner”, regional nomads who travelled through the valley with their carts, or farmers in traditional blue aprons, or even motorcyclists on the infamous “Straight Road of Plaus”. The impressive pictures are complemented by banners written in local dialect, which
relentlessly and ironically refer to the finiteness of life. I walk along the cemetery wall, while behind me a group of children whiz past on their bicycles. You can hear cups clattering and the babble of voices of the guests in the café. Then something strange happens: at the end of the tour the feeling is no longer depressing, but cheerful. Life is good, so let’s enjoy it to the full.