For decades now we have been coming across standing figures or living statues at lively places all over the world. Most of them have a hat or a tin can for passers by to put a penny in and thus bring the statue to life for a little while. There are Frankensteins sitting in a box, Columbuses, painted in gold and holding a sphere, silver figures mimicking the movements of a robot, white angels, black devils, cameramen, washer-women. There’s probably nothing you could think of that you couldn’t find.
I myself have performed many a place in many a country for the penny in the hat. At times performing has involved me in amazing stories that have formed part of my own life experience.
If I am to explain what I consider so special about the living statues, there are two things that immediately come to mind:
The first is the moment in which the passers by are provoked by the figure as they start wondering if it is alive or not (if the actor is ok).
And the second (and this I personally feel is more important) is that a statue of this kind sooner or later becomes a medium for those who see it. Standing in front it for a while one begins to reflect, to dream, to feel, and finally one enters a dialog with oneself.
From then on the figure is no longer important, it only serves to inspire and create movement in the soul of the spectator. There is no word in the arts for that kind of art. I give it my own name: "Dastehende Kunst".
The various events that a living statue might perform at offer a background for another very interesting phenomenon: Even though most people present at official or formal gatherings might be acquainted with each other, their shyness often forms a communication barrier i.e. they would instinctively look to withdraw to a quieter, safer place. This is when the living statue creates a space for communication. At the sight of it people pause for a while, then they start to smile, to talk about it, to admire it or to ridicule it, or even to pity it. It mirrors their own disposition and ‘breaks the ice’ of formality. So having once brought forth their feelings, the people suddenly find they have relaxed and are able to communicate openly for the rest of the evening.
In the last few years I have created a number of living statues. Currently I am performing with three of them.