:: for Chuncheon Puppet Festival EoI ::
:: Mother
Mother (also known as Jessica) is a striking, larger-than-life puppet character that explores contemporary femininity through an engaging street performance. Standing impressively tall, this character embodies the complex pressures placed on women in their thirties through both humor and poignant social commentary.
Jessica is instantly recognizable by her carefully curated appearance: always dressed in trendy activewear or body-hugging swimwear, perpetually carrying a water bottle, and never separated from her latest iPhone (with a background selfie) and AirPods. Her character presents as voluptuous yet slim, with perfectly straightened hair – the embodiment of contemporary beauty standards and social expectations.
The performance presents a nuanced exploration of feminine identity formation in modern society. Through Jessica’s exaggerated embodiment of health-conscious motherhood, the piece examines how women craft their identities through clothing choices, lifestyle practices, and societal roles – particularly the expectations surrounding motherhood.
The character’s performance subtly references the weight of maternal expectations, even as she moves through public spaces with confident determination. Through carefully choreographed interactions with audiences, Jessica reveals both the performance aspect of modern femininity and the underlying tensions of these roles.
This street performance creates an immersive experience where audiences encounter Jessica as she navigates public spaces. The absence of a traditional narrative structure allows for spontaneous interactions between the character and festival-goers, creating memorable, Instagram-worthy moments while subtly inviting reflection on gender expectations and performative identities.
The puppetry performance offers both entertaining spectacle and thoughtful commentary – Jessica’s exaggerated persona providing both humor and insight into how women navigate societal pressures around appearance, productivity, and maternal identity.
:: Wild Birds
Unlikely friends when in the wild, those two birds have been known to become accomplice when faced with freely roaming human crowds!
:: Bush Turkey
Our initial proposal is to bring Mother puppet as we see her potential to act as a strong point of connection with local women in Chuncheon – opening up a space to explore how they see themselves and the roles they play in contemporary society. Specifically, this could take the form of a flexible community workshop, ranging from a simple two-hour conversation with local women (which would directly inform Mother’s performance) to a two-week creative residency where new puppets or props are built together and incorporated into a final performance.
The complementary roving performances we’re proposing is a large-scale outdoor puppetry performance featuring Mother and either or both of our two Australian Wild Birds: the Bush Turkey and the Cassowary. Together they spark curiosity, delight, and critical reflection in public spaces.
While our performances are delivered by professional puppeteers, we also offer the option of community workshop, where local participants are trained in how to wear and perform with the puppets. The workshop culminates in a live performance, giving participants the thrilling and unforgettable experience of bringing the characters to life in the vibrant, real-world setting of the festival crowd
