Human Statue

A living statue is a performer who poses as a statue or mannequin, usually with realistic statue-like makeup, Performances are commonly on the street busking but may also be at events where the artist is paid. A living statue attraction, as a performance, is the artist's ability to stand motionless and occasionally come to life to comic or startling effect.

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 1960s. 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').

Events

Since 1996, the annual "World Statues Festival" is held in Arnhem, Netherlands, initially under the name "Rijnfestijn".

The University of Business and Social Sciences in Buenos Aires, Argentina has hosted a National Contest of Living Statues since the year 2000.

Since 2011, the International Festival of Living Statues has been hosted by Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania, where there is a focus on developing the form through artistic research.

Gallery

File:Living statue, Miami Beach, FL.jpg, Miami Beach, Florida
Image:Stillman living statue.jpg, A Living Statue "Stillman Theater" draws a fascinated crowd
Image:Statue Vivante 19.JPG, "Sophie Malraye, Statue Vivante", World Champion 2006 in Arnhem. Paris, France
File:Livingstatue2.JPG, Barcelona, Spain
Image:Estatuahumana.JPG, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Image:performance.art.london.arp.500pix.jpg, Jubilee Gardens, London
Image:Street artist2.jpg, "Silver man" at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
Image:SilverMan.jpg, Street performer spray painted silver in Edinburgh
Image:Living statue Vienna.jpg, Vienna, Austria
Image:Mozartruaaugusta.jpg, Lisbon, Portugal
Image:living.statue.in.rome.arp.jpg, Rome, Italy
Image:Macau Venetian Macao White Artist Ba.jpg, The Venetian Macao, Macau
Image:Statues Berlin.JPG, Pariser Platz, Berlin
Image:GlosStatue.JPG, Gloucester, England
Image:Living Statue Fairy.jpeg, Fairy, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
Image:Living Statue in Leon, Mexico.jpg, A Living Statue seen in the Downtown of Leon, Mexico
File:Predator, Royal Mile Edinburgh, 2013.JPG, Living statue of a Predator in Edinburgh, Scotland
File:Living Art Statues Sydney Art Gallery NSW (9014173965).jpg, Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia
Image:Italian pavilion statue.jpg, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida
File:Living statue of D. B. Cooper.JPG, Living statue of D. B. Cooper in Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Image:Homme statue - 214.jpg, Annecy, France

See also

*Mannequin Challenge

References

External links

How to Be a Living StatueLiving Statue 101 Or How To Stand Still and Move People
by Amanda Palmer
Busker Alley
living statues videos.
Statuavivente.com, Italia
by Henry White

* ttp://www.cio.com.au/slideshow/464989/pictures_cio_networking_evening_-_hp_print_photo_gallery CIO Networking Evening - photos of human statues at Art Gallery of NSWbr>Human Statues news articlesEva Rinaldi chats with ABC Fiona Wyllie about the World Bodypainting FestivalThe Australian Tattoo & Body Art Expo

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Performing arts
Street performance