Coming across a live statue is always a fascinating experience that raises truly philosophical ponderings: How do they stay so still? How long does it take to get into full costume? Can I get them to giggle?
These burning questions must have been on the minds of visitors to the 10th International Live Statues Festival in the central Israeli city of Rehovot, which took place on the first week of July and was expected to draw over 100,000 visitors.
Performance artists from Britain, Poland, the Netherlands and other countries joined Israeli artists for the festival, which saw daily circus shows and more than 100 live statues test their makeup in the sweltering heat.
But it wasn’t all fun and games, with performance artists vying to be chosen as this year’s best live statue. First place went to a real-life “Picasso painting,” while second and third place were awarded to live statues of a dreamcatcher and still nature, respectively.
“Over the past decade, since the first festival, we’ve turned the festival into a leading cultural brand in Israel and abroad. The festival and its special spirit attract over 100,000 visitors annually. Each year we added more statues and did everything possible to bring over the best and most inspiring art in the field for the visitors’ enjoyment,” Rehovot Mayor Rahamim Malul said of the event.
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