PUPPETS 4.0:
MUSEUM
WITHOUT
WALLS

The German Forum for Puppetry Arts (FIDENA) brings the diverse world of puppet theatre to life in an interactive exhibition. Equipped with virtual reality (VR) headsets, visitors of Puppets 4.0 – Museum without Walls immerse themselves in five digital rooms and learn about Fritz Wortelmann’s puppet collection.

Wortelmann, the former founder of the German Institute for Puppetry, is part of the virtual exhibit as an animated figure, he provides useful information and introduces visitors to the virtual environment. Visitors learn interesting facts about the history, development and forms of puppetry and experience fascinating exhibits from different countries in action.

Visitors begin by meeting puppets from Wortelmann’s lifetime, starting with his own hand puppet theatre, followed by the propaganda puppet theatre of the Nazi era and ending with the artistically designed hand puppets of Lore Lafin, which are experimental and far ahead of their time.

Next, the path leads from nature to the city. In the second room, visitors find themselves amidst a medieval market. Here they learn about the different ways in which the comic figure is played all over Europe. Kasper and his international relatives from Italy, England and Turkey invite visitors to linger and enjoy the atmosphere.

Under a starry night sky in the third room, visitors stroll through an Indonesian bazaar in front of a temple. Here they learn all about wayang, the traditional shadow, puppet and mask play of Indonesia.

The fourth room continues with a visit to a temple. The sacred atmosphere underlines the importance of religious contexts for numerous puppetry traditions of Japan, China and Myanmar. At the same time, a spiritual dimension is opened which contrasts with the previous rooms and exhibits.

The last room is in the research center of the German Forum for Puppetry Arts in Bochum, to familiarize visitors with FIDENA and gradually return visitors to the real world. But before they do, they can meet the spectacular shadow figures of the Australian artist Richard Bradshaw, or the knights of the Sicilian Opera dei Pupi.

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There will be a free panel discussion with Marieke Gaubitz from FIDENA’s Documentation and Research Center and U.S. based puppet exhibit curator, moderated by John Farrell, Artistic Director of Freeport, Maine-based Figures of Speech Theatre.

The discussion will take place on Friday, September 25 at 5:00 PM in Portland Museum of Art’s Bernard Osher Foundation Auditorium.

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FIDENA is one of the most important festivals for contemporary puppet theater and object theater. Far more than 1,000 stars and newcomers from more than 50 countries have already been presented. FIDENA is considered a gauge of current trends and attracts international observers from all over the world to Bochum, Germany every two years. For many artists, the festival is a springboard for the international career. Experts love the atmosphere, the high quality of the program, the testing of new formats, and the theoretical exchange in symposia and discussions.

The presentation of “Puppets 4.0” at Puppets in Portland is made possible by The Goethe-Institut Boston and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany based in Boston. Puppetry 4.0 is presented in partnership with the Portland Museum of Art.

The Goethe-Institut Boston is a German cultural organization that fosters international cultural exchange and dialogue with Germany. Their cultural department presents over 150 cultural events annually. Goethe-Institut Boston brings international artists and experts to New England conversations and present a wide variety of events including performances, exhibitions, film screenings, and panel discussions. Their Studio 170 for Artists programs provide unique artist residency and travel stipend opportunities for New England artists of all disciplines.

Run Time: Approximately 20 minutes