Our Collections |
Much of our inspiration is drawn from the natural world; flora, fauna, seasonal rituals and festivals from traditions and cultures around the globe, although we have also been inspired by classic painters such as Hieronymus Bosch, and literary classics such as George Orwell's Animal Farm. Projects go through a lengthy two-year process of research and development, prototyping, initial performances and subsequent tours and adaptations.
All of our costumes, props, floats and puppets are preserved in a dedicated costume archive space in south-east London. A select few are reimagined and form the basis of new projects, whilst others are reanimated by community participants within collaborative projects throughout the UK and overseas. |
|
DAY OF THE DEAD, 2017 - 2019
Following a recent R&D trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, and a residency here at our studios with Mexican artist Pedro Mendoza in November 2016, we are inspired once again to revisit the traditional ritualistic festival, Day of the Dead. This project involved not only processional carnival performance, but also incorporated a site-specific performance leading to a finale ritual. With costumes and prop development way under way in the studios, this work debuted at Aalborg Karneval, Denmark, in May 2017. Currently, the research stage is progressing into a production phase, scaling up some of the models into life size prototype props and characters. This involves making casts ready for vac forming, and solving structural and articulation issues, as the props and puppets will be used both for a site-specific installation, then double up as moving sets for the carnival parade in Aalborg, Denmark. See our Vimeo page for the collection in action! |
|
|
ANIMAL FARM, 2013 - 2015
“To fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole” ~ George Orwell (on Animal Farm) 1946 This project spanned a three year process of research, development, design, and performance, and was inspired by the classic tale Animal Farm by George Orwell, first published in 1945. Mandinga Arts has always had a fascination with animals, real and imaginary. Animal Farm offered challenges well beyond simply creating new beasts; it was the multi layered and political aspects of the story that inspired. From heroes and villains, victims and tyrants, fools and visionaries, dramatic narrative, transforming relationships, revolution and terror, there was plenty of food for thought. In 2013 a trip to Colombia provided an excellent opportunity for Charles and Julieta to study farm animals for the project. Whilst there, new costumes were created for musicians entitled Paparazzi. The costumes referenced how, in the novel, the minority in power used vague language, propaganda, and misinformation to control the thoughts and beliefs of the majority. Puppets were created that blurred the boundary between human puppeteer and animal, turning two legs into four, and back again; pigs, chickens, dogs, and cows, and even a barn with the '10 commandments'. Between 2013 and 2015, costumes, puppets and props were incorporated in small scale carnival performances all over the UK and overseas, engaging hundreds of community participants with skilled artists and musicians. The project became the basis for all of Mandinga's partner projects during this period; touring to Nottingham, Leicester, Slough, Boston, Hounslow, London, Brighton, and Aalborg (Denmark). “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” ~ Animal Farm, George Orwell |
|
|
CHIMERA, 2011 & 2012
Chimera was showcased in 2011 at the Thames Festival Night Parade, and was further developed and toured nationally. The work formed the basis for all of Mandinga's presentations at 2012 Cultural Olympiad celebration events throughout the UK. Coming from the Latin ‘chimaera’, and the Greek word ‘khimaira’, chimera has a mix of ancestry and meanings weaving between classical myths and legends. In Greek myth khimaira is a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat, tail of a serpent and in its broader interpretation, a wild and unrealistic dream or notion, a fanciful mental illusion or fabrication. Informed by these ideas the Chimera project incorporated visual arts inspired by two painters, French artist Henry Rousseau (1844-1910) and the German graphic artist Heinrich Kley (1863-1945). Design and performance concepts explored the metamorphosing of humans with animals, plants and organisms, creating a wild and unrealistic dream, a fanciful illusion: a chimera. Newly created costumes focused on puppetry and large scale creations, including six structural Baiana skirts, spanning three metres at the base with hand painted fabric illustrating the jungle images from Rousseau’s work. The puppet section included puppeteers leading, or being led by a life size puppet; part woman, part mammal. Both were accompanied by a strange mix of reptile, bird and prehistoric creatures of unknown breeds. 2012 saw the exploration into projection and the use of moving image in performance. Working with Brian Curson, the float team created two large screens on either side of the float, and with short throw projectors created the illusion of an eight-legged creature walking amoungst the performers. For video footage see our Vimeo page. Chimera was presented in its entirety at the Thames Festival (2011 & 2012), and at Night of Festivals in Nottingham (2012), and toured in smaller capacities across the country and overseas. |
|
|
PACHAMAMA, 2009 & 2010
Pachamama is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes - usually translated as “Mother Earth” but a more literal translation would be “Mother Universe”. This symbolic, spiritual figure was the pivotal figurehead and creative springboard for 2009 & 2010; a carnival queen, her court, and rituals representing and celebrating the Latin America Continent in its diversity, sensuality, passion and extremes, from Mexico to Brazil, via Cuba, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Perhaps our most ambitious float build to date, in 2009 the it was completely disguised in the bulbous body of Pachamama, with the queen herself watching over her court from the top. Surrounding and accompanying this central figure were musicians, dancers, actors and circus performers, their costumes reflecting some of the great iconic characters found throughout Latin American Carnivals; Baianas, Katrinas & Skeletons, and Cubanas. Lighting was a key in focus for artistic development in 2009 & 2010, and we worked with many professionals in the field exploring ways we could internally light all costumes for night time processional performance. The float itself was also lit from the inside, with pulsating coloured ethereal glow. in 2009 this work was part of a commission for the opening ceremony at the UK Centre for Carnival Arts, and later presented at the Thames Festival Night Parade. In 2010, it's final year of development, the work was toured, in its entirety, to Nottingham for Night of Festivals, Newcastle Winter Carnival, London's Thames Festival Night Parade, and in smaller capacities across the country and overseas. |
|
|
TRIBES AND TRADING ROUTES, 2007 & 2008
From pre-history to the present day, humanity has been on the move, and no more so then on the European continent which has been home to the greatest and most diverse migration of peoples, cultures and trading routes. This rich unfolding human tapestry was the springboard for this two-year project culminating each year at the Mayor's Thames Festival Night Parade. Part one (2007) presented newly created puppets and large scale costumes in the form of mangroves and a giant dragon fish puppet with internal lighting. The procession included children from Purfleet Primary school in a newly created strawberry section, accompanied by a fully decorated float. Part two (2008) developed the project further with the support of the British Council and the Thames Festival. Following R&D trips to China, a 50 metre long Tonglian Dragon was created under the guidance of three renowned Dragon makers from Sichuan Province, (China). 30 community members were invited to rehearse and perform the Dragon, forming a spectacular opening section. A rigged float provided the apparatus for a troupe of circus performers that formed part of an 18 strong group of multi coloured monkeys creating an interactive, wild and cheeky monkey mayhem - making offerings of bananas and monkey masks to the public. Children from Purfleet Primary School returned again in 2008, led by a professional choreographers and costumed as lotus flowers, celebrating the cross cultural collaboration between Mandinga Arts and Chongqing, China. The whole project, including the collaboration with artists in Chongqing, was documented by film, and can be viewed on our Vimeo page. |
|
|
VISIONS OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS, 2005 & 2006
Inspired by the 15th century Flemish artist Hieronymus Bosch, and the extraordinary and mysterious universe depicted in his large triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights, this project was developed over a two year period culminating at the in the Mayor’s Thames Festival Night Parade in September 2005 and 2006. The work was also toured across the UK, presenting in various scales, including London's Lord Mayor's Parade. Overflowing with weird, beautiful and macabre details Bosch's nightmarish pageants seem through our 21st century eyes to foreshadow the creation of modern surrealism. In honour of this, and alongside medieval references in some of the costumes, a strong emphasis on animals - real and imaginary - was present, and complemented by vibrant tropical colours and oversized props. Processional presentations of Vision of Earthly Delights featured a fully decorated float and a band of 35 musicians, from Rhythms of the City fusing rhythms from James Brown and Conga rhythms from Cuba. Performers included students from Rose Bruford College, professional performers from the Colombian circus company Circo Para Todos, two traditional dance companies led by Gaspard Zamble (Ivory Coast) and Guillermo Davies (Cuba) and the contemporary dance company Lamat. See our Vimeo page for our historic video archive, for films on both part I and part II of this project. |
|
|
A CHANGE OF SKIN, 2003 & 2004
Mandinga's 2003 & 2004 project, 'A Change of Skin' explored the roots of Afro-Latin American cultures, in collaboration with Rhythms of the City, Lamat Dance and Kada Carnival Group. The project was presented at the Thames Festival Night Parade in 2003 and 2004., and in 2004 was re-imagined and presented in Greenwich Park for 'Sinfonia de Colores'. Sinfonia de Colores was a project commissioned by the Trinity College of Music that celebrated Latin American Culture, inspired by Brazilian Samba and Cuban Conga. Following a programme of workshops in costume making, music and dance in schools and collages all over south east London, 300 participants took park in the spectacular parade in Greenwich Park from the Royal Observatory. For video footage of Sinfonia De Colores, see our Vimeo page for our historic video archive. |
|
