Sometimes passion born from a little thing, a toy, a gift...

Mario Cossu was born in Ottana, a village in the centre of Sardinia. When he was a little child he received a mask as present (that is on the side), left from the maternal grandfather to the family. A mask, at that time, was a very precious object because only a few people could own one and often the villagers, in order to dress up themselves, borrowing  or exchanging it each others not to be recognized  from other people. Carnival is a heartfelt event in Ottana and Mario, like other children of the same age, took part actively in all the festivities rituals. Beginning the 16th of January, St. Anthony's Day, and finishing on the "s'ottada" (eighth day after the end of the carnival). When Mario was 19 he had to emigrate in Germany to find a job. For this reason, as well as the family, he also left the traditional appointment with the carnival. After few times Mario, fortunately, found a permanent job in Turin where he spent many years.
In 1973, the Enichem Fibre factory was completed, which offered the opportunity to many emigrants, not only the ones from Barbagia, but from all over Sardinia, to came back in the native country. Mario came  back as well and decided to live with his wife in Sarule (her village) near Ottana.
As soon as he came back home Mario felt again the passion of the childhood; in fact besides participating to the Ottana carnival, he started wishing to emulate the mask he received from the grandfather, so with big passion he started to carve his works. In that way, as when he was a little child, Mario found out again the appointment with the carnival, to discover the spirit which is the base of the Ottana tradition and reflects its villagers. With his friends, who he used to mask with, in special with Sebastiano Brasu, Daniele Lai e Sebastiano Porta, he founded the association "Boes e Merdules" with the purpose to promote the traditional masks outside Ottana. This association grew up thanks to all the members and it took part to the feast Redentore in Nuoro in 1976 and the event called Europeade the year after. In these years one of the more beautiful and meaningful works of Mario was made (that you can see on the side). In fact it appears in some books and videos dedicated to the Barbagia carnival and it has been used as an icon in reviews and musician albums dedicated to Sardinia!
Mario Cossu is still a member of the association "Sos Merdules Bezzos de Otzana" and from nineties he is invited to participate in several manifestations, among which Cortes Apertas, to show his masks.