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His real name is Thorsten. But here he is Coltlan. Like most he has passed his real identity at the door. Thorsten is shy, has few friends, is unsociable. Coltlan however, is communicative, smiles to all, accessible. Trustful, one would have to say, because Coltlan is a Husky in human size. In it, Thorsten infected, but this is not important here at all, how and what he wants to be. A 1.80-meter-tall Stuffed Husky on two legs is not something that would be more than 2000 people who have come together in Neukölln "Estrel Hotel" at the Sun Avenue to "Eurofurence" irritate.
Since Wednesday, the lobby of larger than life foxes, cats, wolves and dogs is dominated in all colors. They stand in groups together, entertain and embrace, and there's a communal atmosphere. For the 20th time, Europe's largest gathering of supporters of the so-called Furry genre is already taking place, and it still serves to Sunday all the lovers "anthropomorphic animal beings or animals with human attributes," as co-organizer Jörg Reuter describes it, to also times personally acquainted. Because the exchange is normally run via social media.
"Furries are people in animal costume," said Reuter. However, the term also describes the whole community, which since its creation in the 80s defined by an interest in fantasy animals in text, sound and image. About half of the Furries is German, the rest comes from all over the world."We have Americans, Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians, who easily together eating breakfast and talking about art," Reuter describes enthusiastically."This fascinates me as the love of the Beasts brings together the people." As a harmonious family gatherings be it here, the Furries he actually looks as an artist community. There are graphic designers and illustrators, but also bakers, merchants, and IT specialists who meet here.
Seminars, stories, Party
At the convention the Furries do together what they normally do at home alone, here in the form of lectures, workshops and seminars. One can learn to sew a costume to move in costume to draw characters and stories devise around them. And with all learning very important: Party! The Furries are nocturnal, and the evening is the life really begins."It's surreal at first, when a bunch of people moving in the fur to techno, but it's just great," says Reuter. That here just a few freaks dress up as their favorite stuffed animals, he finds "unacceptable escalation". There were quite a few that would identify "very" with their figure."But for all, it is of course the ultimate running around in a costume," he says. And also a real challenge.
This proves impressively a green fox on the way downstairs to the toilet, curved like a sickle, because only a vertical view of the stages saved him from falling down."You have to imagine that, like looking through two toilet paper rolls," Kathi aka Sinea describes the still running around in civilian clothes, their view of the fur."The eye slits are small and you really have to watch out that you can not be dropped." Then they must take as furry supervisor. It leads the Furries through the area, ensures that they drink enough and admits chairs out of the way. For Werefox, a relatively natural, red-brown giant fox, which is very important. He is deaf and dumb and is only dependent on these slits in his senses. But he was with heart and soul into it, for three years, he signaled with his big paws.
When people barely friends
Werefox enjoy the freedom to be here, who he wants, translated Sinea."There is a tolerant atmosphere, which is why we also have a large proportion of gay and bisexual men here." The ladies share the other hand, is about ten percent, and Sinea know why women of such meetings away sooner."In costume, people feel free," she says. And some female furries were the cuddle ambitions of their male counterparts just too far. So the men thus remain largely among themselves, and Thorsten aka Coltlan enjoys the sense of community.
"As a person I had previously barely friends," he says."Through a TV report I have become aware of the Furries and got me in March at Furbase, an Internet platform account." Since then he meets, the gardener is during the week, on weekends with other furries and running in costume through the city."I trust in my costume much more, can better reach out to people and have more confidence." He enjoyed the attention of the people, especially the happy children when they see the huge stuffed animal. The question of his true identity, he can not answer clearly."I am a human being. And a passionate Husky."