55 minutes

Adults

The work was developed gradually in France and Indonesia. “Gaung, A Meandering Room” is the culmination of an ever-evolving project. The story starts with a quirky mannequin used by a painter as his model during the 19th century. The story of a painter and a model that became his fetish is woven using a visual and sensory theater method. The deepening process of the work is done live on set. The painter composes his canvases as if two musicians are playing a haunting piece likening a mantra, sometimes visible, other times not.

The mannequin, whose frame is made of bamboo, is connected to a crystal-clear hourglass and tries to find its multiple forms within a wooden frame.

A metaphor of deep longing for the beloved is entwined, and the ultimate fracture is seen as a profoundly intimate reconstruction. With a heart-rending contemplation process, this performance of puppets and humans stretches over time to emerge as fragments of reality and a reflection of the imperfection of humanity. Identities are revealed as transferences and worldly projections and exemplify shifting and fragmented realities.

In PESTA BONEKA#8, “Gaung The Meandering Room” will be performed live from Paris and live-streamed at the IFI auditorium, Yogyakarta.

Artistic Concept

Direction: Arnaud Labbé Delicata & Júlia Kovács

Performers: Júlia Kovács, Marine Midy, Vanda Benes

Painter: Pascal Laloy

Musicians: J.Mo’ong Santoso Pribadi, Davide Grosso

Lighting: Virgile Baron

Puppet Constructors: Anonyme, Arnaud Labbé Delicata, Júlia Kovács, Dedy Shofianto

Costume designer: Eloïse Gohel

Technical Director: Virgile Baron, Eloïse Gohel

Profile Artist

The group was established in 2006 by Júlia Kovács and Arnaud Labbé Delicata. Both graduated from ESNAM - École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette de Charleville -Mézières. They decided to conduct experiments through their arts by going on a road trip from Europe to Asia. From Hungary, Sarajevo (Bosnia), Istanbul, and Uchisar (Turkey), to Yerevan (Armenia), then made a cross to Iran, Pakistan, and India, until they finally arrived in Indonesia.

During their time in Indonesia, from 2010 to 2012, they studied Javanese performing arts at the Institute of Indonesian Arts in Surakarta while continuing to perform their works.

They met Mo'ong, a musician who accompanied them in their creative adventure. In 2013, they returned to France to work with a shadow and puppet theatre, Théâtre de Nuit. They worked with the company for two seasons: Júlia as a puppeteer and Arnaud as an observer and photographer.

In September 2013, upon returning to Jakarta, the group met an actress, Marine Midy, and a lighting designer, Etienne Exbrayat, at the Wayang World Puppets Carnival. Both joined the group in creating MASQ in Yogyakarta and performing them at the Taman Budaya. Then they decided to produce an intercultural performance as their main topic. This marked the initial birth of the Gaung work.

When they arrived back in France, the group underwent residence at Au Bout du Plongeoir (Domaine de Tizé, 35) and 7Bis & Cies (Saint-Brieuc, 22) in 2015, the Théâtre de la Licorne (Dunkerque, 59) in 2016, the Théâtre du Blavet (InzinzacLochrist, 56) in 2019 and 2020, the Théâtre de Laval in September 2020, and the Kastell d'o in January 2021 and 2022