In this recent photo,
54-year-old Han Xilan plays as Greek goddess Aphrodite during a
rehearsal for a performance art festival in October in
Shanghai.
A group of retirees from Shanghai's Jing'an district are getting
a new lease on life as living sculptures.
The group of about 20 are rehearsing their performance art,
which involves dressing up and standing stock still for extended
periods of time, ahead of a district drama sculpture festival in
October.
The group had their first rehearsal, on Nanjing Road W, at the
weekend, when they dressed up as characters from the Norwegian
dramatist Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" and other dramatic and
mythical figures.
Han Xilan, 54, came as Greek goddess Aphrodite. She wore a white
dress and held a golden apple, changing pose every 15 minutes.
"I used to be in a chorus, but now I have found being a living
sculpture is more challenging," Han said.
Another performer Li Qihua, a 55-year-old retired technical
worker, said that when she first started to perform living
sculpture she got tired easily because she had to stay completely
still for 15 to 20 minutes.
"We cannot even blink, or breathe heavily," she said. "But
gradually I've got used to it and now I can meet all the
requirements of being a living sculpture performer. I believe the
activity is also good for my health."
The group plans to rehearse 20 times before the festival, and
more dramas will be raided for inspiration, including "Hamlet" and
"Les Miserables," said Sun Guoxiong, an official with the Shanghai
Culture Bureau Jing'an District branch, the activity's
organizer.
"It used to be that only young people were interested in such
activities, but now an increasing number of middle-aged and even
seniors are taking part," said Sun. "We want to attract more people
to play a role in the living sculpture festival."
The festival, which is expected to be held on the district's
Huashan Road, will feature living sculptures of famous literary
characters from both home and abroad.
(Shanghai Daily April 17, 2007)
