fimp'21 - The Return of the Objects

In many ways, our culture is quicker on passing judgment on the past and its remnant than it is at evaluating the conditions of the present or the possibilities of the future. There are several reasons for this, but the materiality of places and objects from the past contributes significantly to the imposition of this orientation.

For a theatre company of animated forms, objects are a crucial part of this material presence of the past. More than memorabilia that has no place on the written files, these multiple objects are often kept in storage, becoming invisible and sometimes perishable for their fragility. They might find a place in museums and perhaps become a 'relic' protected by security cabinets or showcases, removed from their experience in the world. If by chance they return to life, coming out of the slow epic dust, they bring signs of their old life with them. Zombies with a past who need to question the future and act in the welcoming present.

Throughout this seminar, Teatro de Ferro places objects from its past performances on the table, opening its material archive to queries about the possibilities of a zombie aesthetic that questions the crisis of market values and of what's new.

Workshop held as part of the 2021 Porto International Puppet Festival · fimp'21