Performance art
Spiritree works internationally in both performance art and street theatre.
Giant Puppets
A distinct element of Spiritree’s street theatre is a unique form of giant body puppet developed by the artists. These 8 to 12 foot-tall figures are animated by the actor from within, and because the actor’s feet remain on the ground, his or her movements achieve a dance-like quality, in harmony with the puppet.
Guernica: a performance piece
Spiritree’s performance art features masks, sculpture, body puppets, original poetic texts, expressive gesture and movement…
The example below, Guernica, was an artistic journey that culminated in an original performance piece.
Inspiration...
The Picasso painting and the story it tells; the heartbreaking turmoil present in our world today; the words of Gandhi:
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?
Creative process...
After studying the Picasso painting from both an historic and artistic point of view, the artists approached the subject from their own personal perspectives. This more intimate reflection led the artists to interpret Picasso’s artistic style and intent in a unique way. The group of artists worked simultaneously on the construction of the masks and figures, the choreography of expressive movement and gesture and the composition of poetic texts. Their modus operandi throughout was experimentation in all the arts forms in play. One element inspired another, indicating the path to follow.
Installation Art
Spirtree’s installation art is site-specific, theme-based and collaborative.
Let’s Meet at the Artists’ Cafe
Papier mâché is often considered a medium used primarily by children, or for parades and festivals such as Mardi Gras.
This installation materialized from the desire to endow the humble craft of papier mâché with the dignity of a true art form.
The participants in Spiritree’s permanent papier mâché workshop were inspired by some notable individuals who hailed from diverse cultures and eras and whose commonality was that of being an artist: Artemisia Gentileschi, Frida Kahlo, Emanuele Luzzati, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele. The participants envisioned these renowned artists meeting in a cafe, seated around a surrealistic table.
The artistic process lasted for one year. It was a journey through the transformation of manipulated paper into solid sculptures, experimentation with many different qualities of paper and, in conclusion, oil painting. It was also a personal journey into the power of creativity and imagination where each participant was motivated to unearth new solutions to overcome the limitations and resistances experienced along the way.
Working individually — yet at the same time collectively — made it possible for the participants to share techniques and experiences; they also learned to understand how new creative horizons had opened up for each one from a unique personal viewpoint.
This experience put the participants in touch with what they consider to be the artist’s task: to visually render an emotion, a thought, an intuition to oneself and others.