Philippe Genty Workshop
Genty is among the most innovative puppeteers working today, an artist who blends puppetry, theatrical imagery and choreography in his groundbreaking performances. This video recorded a series of abstract puppet events that grew out of a workshop Genty and choreographer Mary Underwood gave at the institute in 1998.
- We look for a long time at a huge wad of white paper. Then the puppeteer inside begins to slowly move and then roll around. Eventually a hand-sized head emerges at the end of puppeteer’s hand. Magic happens as white-clad puppeteers create different formations with the head, making it act as thought it wants to become part of the group.
- On a tabletop, a skeleton is disinterred from a pile of white powder and then returns once again to dust.
- A length of three-inch wide tape is stuck to floor. A pile of white powder is distributed on top of tape, and group of toy soldiers is placed on top of the powder row. The puppeteer picks up the tape to the sound of machine gun fire. The powder looks like smoke, as the soldiers fly in every direction. They were later picked up and attached like bullets on a bandolier using Velcro.
