Living statue
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The term living statue refers to a mime artist who poses like a statue or mannequin, usually with realistic statue-like makeup, sometimes for hours at a time.
Living statue performers can fool passersby and a number of hidden camera shows on television have used living statues to startle people.[citation needed] As with all performing arts, living statue performers may perform as buskers[1]
History
The tableau vivant, or group of living statues, was a regular feature of medieval and Renaissance festivities and pageantry, such as royal entries by rulers into cities. Typically a group enacting a scene would be mounted on an elaborate stand decorated to look like a monument, placed on the route of the procession. A living statue appeared in a scene of the 1945 French masterpiece film Les enfants du paradis (Children of Paradise), and early living statue pioneers include the London-based artists Gilbert and George in the 60´s. In the early years of the 20th century, the German dancer Olga Desmond put on “Evenings of Beauty” (Schönheitsabende) in which she posed nude in imitation of classical works of art ('living pictures').
Living statue events
The World Championship of Living Statues is held annually at Arnhem in the Netherlands. In 2011, the festival ran from 28 to 29 August with around 300 000 visitors and 300 living statues (including amateurs and children).[citation needed]
The city of Espinho, Portugal has organized a living statue contest on the Sunday nearest to the 16th of June (the municipal holiday) since 1997.[citation needed]
The University of Business and Social Sciences in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina has hosted a National Contest of Living Statues since the year 2000.[2]
Other uses
In science fiction and fantasy the term often has the opposite meaning: humans (or other humanoid creatures such as elves) who are immobilized by technology or magic and sometimes disguised as real statues, often remaining conscious in the process.[citation needed]
- In Michael Moorcock's fantasy novel The Queen of the Swords, the heroes encounter the Frozen Army that once set out to fight an evil goddess but were turned into living statues instead.[citation needed]
- In the Anne Rice novel The Queen of the Damned, vampire queen Akasha and her husband Enkil turn into statues after remaining motionless for centuries.[citation needed]
- The 2005 movie House of Wax, which depicts a town full of ultra-realistic wax statues who are, in fact, real living people encased in wax.[citation needed]
- In the British TV Show Doctor Who, there is a race of aliens who are quite literally "living statues."[citation needed]
Gallery
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A Living Statue "Stillman Theater" draws a fascinated crowd -
"Sophie Malraye, Statue Vivante", World Champion 2006 in Arnhem. Paris, France -
"The Copper Cowboy" in Chicago
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"Silver man" at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco -
Street performer spray painted silver in Edinburgh. -
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Gloucester, England -
Fairy, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa -
A Living Statue seen in the Downtown of Leon, Mexico.
See also
References
- ^ Björn Lindahl (2010-03-02). "Job description: do as little as possible — Nordic Labour Journal". Nordic Labour Journal. Work Research Institute, Oslo, commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
They suddenly appeared in all European capitals and tourist cities: the living statues. Where did they come from? What are they thinking while they stand there, lifeless? What do they do in winter? We came with many questions and quite a few prejudices when we approached one of the most peculiar occupations there is.
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External links
- How to Be a Living Statue
- Living Statue 101 Or How To Stand Still and Move People by Amanda Palmer
- Busker Alley living statues videos.
- Australian and international bodyart news Australian and international bodyart and bodypainting news media.
- News media articles with photos on human statues and bodyart