Verbigae For Eveluations

Next Saturday will be held at the bookstore Yvon Lambert, the launch of the hundredth publication Books of
Kaugummi
"
Dondoro

" of
Estelle Hanania

.

Bartolomé sent me a few days ago a copy of this first book in a series offset:

The design of the book is rather neat and sobriety of all makes good tribute to the work of Estelle Hanania

. I especially like the use of both contact sheets at the beginning and end of the book, on the backs of the cover.

In his blog post

, Estelle Hanania returned to the meeting with Hoichi Okamoto, a puppeteer she photographed at his home in Japan, which led the series led to the publication:

Hoichi Okamoto lives among the mountains in the Japanese province of Nagano, in a large house he built gradually around a central room, the rehearsal room. Here, large mirrors, half-hidden under curtains, cover the walls and allow Hoichi to see when working on a new show. Some masks and puppets in preparation litter the ground in the middle of full ashtrays, bits of fabric, cushions on which the many cats in the house their home. This spacious room five doors leading to other rooms even more enigmatic: the workshop masks, kimonos in part, the room with hundreds of dolls .... This qu'Hoichi Okamoto lives and works when not in Tokyo or representation in the world, where he chose move away from the hustle of big cities, surrounded by rice fields and apple orchards where the bell rings for lunch to remind workers of the hour lunch break.

On the front door of the house is written in red letters DONDOR O. This is the name of the company that was founded in 1974 by Hoichi Company which is the only member and founder lonely puppet shows on a human scale, unique.

is discovering the photo accumulated in boxes and albums that I could better understand what were the early years of representation puppeteer this so special. During the first six years of the creation of the company, Hoichi Okamoto traveled the roads of Japan on foot, pulling a huge cart in which were all puppets, masks, drapes and other accessories needed for installation of its road shows . Often choosing to play in front of the temples and sometimes very harsh conditions. "There were many difficult days during those years, rain, wind, storms. I learned never to oppose the forces of nature. " A photo can be seen Hoichi masked, walking in a village assailed by a horde of small boys and girls laughing, I asked him if his performances were also intended for children, and strongly Hoichi replied no. Then I asked if this world of characters he has created his own already peopled childhood in Hiroshima, his hometown "kid I was never interested in dolls and puppets. Those that I make today are not toys or symbols, but human envelopes. What interests me is the difference between a living body and an empty form. " The puppets Hoichi have often seemed on the verge of moving, to turn his face toward you and greet you, and when a head falls inadvertently chin on his chest was a strange feeling sometimes, the doll she would asleep forgetting our presence "The puppets are not alive, they do not move by themselves and make no noise, but this mysterious side of the puppet that I want to express. The stillness and silence have a magical power over man. "

Hoichi Okamoto has gradually become an unavoidable name in the international arena. His designs, prints of traditional forms of Noh and Bunraku Japanese combined the spirit of theater and contemporary dance surprised at first. It took several years before his creations are praised by critics and its success comes. It is now regularly invited to present his shows around the world. "My style is rooted in a certain Japanese theatrical tradition, but while differentiating them. There are many people who appreciate my work as a new art form. "
Hoichi Okamoto is an elusive figure and passionate. Describing his creations like endless dreams and characters wandering through a maze immersed in the dark, colliding with objects and creatures, the dead and the living.
"In Two mirrors Held Against Each Other, I Saw The back of my head That Was Facing myself"
(excerpt from "Ji Man" solo performance Hoichi Okamoto) 08
eh
Hoichi Okamoto died This summer, the book dedicated to him.

Launch scheduled for Saturday, February 19 at the bookstore Yvon Lambert.

Facebook Event.

This first installment opens a larger series of books based on offset printing of 1000 copies. The next will be devoted to the work of Julian Langerdoff, and will be available within two months.

A new stage in Kaugummi?