Arche Nova - performance tour - June-July 1998 - Germany/ The Netherlands
Carl Kuddell was commissioned as one of 50 artists to collaborate on an experimental art touring show, called ‘Arche Nova - a Peace Caravan’, celebrating the 350th anniversary of the European Peace of Westphalia. The 100+ artists and support crew toured 30 cities in four weeks, criss-crossing the border between Western Germany and the Netherlands, after a two-week rehearsal period.
Carl performed solo as a high-stilts puppeteer, engaging members of the public on markets and streets in a role-reversal of a scarred child in pyjamas turned 4m high giant, playing with traffic and scary adults. He also participated in several ensemble works, using a variety of techniques from abseiling, stilts acrobatics, butoh street dance to fireshows. Every night Carl performed the human version of his solo act during the grand show in each city’s medieaval square, on a collapsable stage, bringing all 50 artists together in an extravagant spectacle about illusive peace and experiences of war.
The tour employed over 100 artists and support workers, combining Germany’s fluxus scene and artists living in squats, trucks and old circus trailers. The resulting tour, under the joint direction of Willem Schulz and Marcello Monaco, was a great success, encouraging Carl to pursue his creative career professionally.
Partners
Wilde Rose EV
