'True artistry': Austria puppets charm with age-old craft

14 Sept 01:54 Key points summarised by AI

The Salzburg Marionette Theatre holds UNESCO World Heritage status, with puppeteer training demanding years of dedication, akin to becoming a doctor.
Puppeteers master intricate control bars and numerous strings (often 11 or more) to achieve startlingly lifelike movements and interactions, creating compelling stage illusions.
The theatre's founder, Anton Aicher, developed a unique control bar a century ago, enabling the puppets to interact closely and realistically.
Puppeteers are integral to the entire artistic process, designing, carving, and dressing the puppets before bringing them to life on stage.
Despite the extensive apprenticeship, the theatre successfully attracts new talent, ensuring the preservation of this revered and complex art form.

Bright at Midnight: Conceptual echoes of Bas Jan Ader Arrive in Bangkok

Yesterday 15:13 Key points summarised by AI

"Bright at Midnight" marks the first institutional exhibition in Asia of Dutch conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader, showcasing his enigmatic work at Bangkok Kunsthalle until January 10, 2027.
The exhibition delves into Ader's legacy, exploring themes of vulnerability and the ephemeral, made more poignant by his 1975 disappearance at sea during an art project.
It encourages viewers to engage with art beyond its material form, featuring key pieces like "Thoughts unsaid, Then forgotten," "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks," and the haunting film "Launch of the Ocean Wave."
A highlight is the planned live transformation of "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks" in 2026, where ropes will be cut, creating a new layer of art from the destructive impact.
The exhibition challenges conventional art consumption, advocating for a deeper appreciation of conceptual and research-driven artistic practices over mere fascination with art as an asset class.