Shadow Art Show Video
By Dave Parrack
Brit Music Scene
The first time I watched this YouTube video of a human shadow puppet show, I thought there must be some camera trickery involved, it’s that impressive. It’s all real though, and performed by a dance company called ‘Pilobulus‘.
We can all do those small shadow puppets with our hands against the wall, making a simple shape like a bird, but this is something a whole lot better, and harder to choreograph.
The first shape made is of a tall man, and it’s incredible how perfect it looks, with no weird deviations at the edge of the form. I suspect it took quite a few takes to pull this one off.
Next comes a bunch of fat penguins, and if it wasn’t good enough to just take the form, they make them waddle along too. I enjoyed watching this more than ‘The March of the Penguins’.
And then it just gets stupidly complicated as the group of body puppeteers make a silhouette of a van with passengers, complete with a guy running after it in a cartoon fashion. How do they do it?
Lastly, the group turn in to a gun… once which shoots! The whole clip is astonishing, and come sun down tonight, I’ll be practising my skills in front of the light. I fear for my neighbours.
Hope you like it,
DaveP
YouTube, shadow art, human art, shadow puppets, puppets, human puppets
August 17th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Cool!I like this clip :D
August 17th, 2007 at 7:44 am
They’re a very talented group. I saw them on Oprah. :)