Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Living Statues......Love 'em or Loathe 'em??

I think the jury is out on Living Statues around the world..... Take them or leave them?? I personally tend to leave them; however as part of all the festive fun and street theatre of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I have to admit that they did seem to be more innovative and fit more seamlessly......

although perhaps this moodily, miserable mermaid, rather unfortunately located, needs a lot more work on the festive and fun front...

Nevertheless the "Japanese Men in Body Suits" entertained a tough Edinburgh crowd on the Royal Mile for hours with their antics, especially entrancing the younger members of the audience who were more than delighted to loudly observe " But Mummy, that one is a girl!!"

In London living statues have all been lined up along the South Bank under the London Eye for years......

but here in Mexico City, living statues are a relatively recent phenomenon on the streets of the Big Taco. Mainly concentrated around the pedestrianised streets of the Centro Historico, they have only really appeared in numbers within the last year; and what a bizarre and eclectic bunch they are!! I don't really know who or what any of these three are supposed to be....

but I do really like this detail from the guy on the left's overall outfit and costume...
So, yes, I am deeply ambivalent about the artistic and entertainment value of living statues...but what is the verdict out there??? Love 'em or Loathe 'em?? Let me know...

7 comments:

Joanna said...

Well I think they're really great--although I haven't seen that many of them. Here in Victoria (a Canadian tourist town) we get one or two in the summer. My feelings are complicated by amazement at how they can keep still for any length of time--and worrying about their muslce cramps. Some are done better than others for sure. The fellow on the typewriter is clever.

BBE said...

Like anything else it is quality that counts. If the costume is good and they are skilled at what they are doing, they are a nice diversion to have on the high street. I love the way that really small children react to them.

BBE

A Cuban In London said...

I love them. I think they bring an element of fun in any city centre. And I loved your photos because they gave me a real feel of that off-beat character that most living statues have. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Catherine said...

well it seems that more of you love them.....what can I say.. i shall have to look at them with new eyes!!

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

I haven't seen many of them either; especially here in NM. We are behind the time by at least 10-15 years I think!
But, from what you've shown here, I like them because to amount of drive, passion and motivation it takes to do it. It is art. It is the full embrace of art and that is what I love about it.

Catherine said...

Joanna- thanks for the comments...is the guy on the typewriter a famous writer I am missing?? ps I have been to Victoria as I lived in Canada for a year..

Catherine said...

Joanna- thanks for the comments...is the guy on the typewriter a famous writer I am missing?? ps I have been to Victoria as I lived in Canada for a year..