The latest production by the UPNG School of Arts stands to confirm that art is a universal language.
For a first, the school is involving an international professional artist to work with the students.
Laurent Decol is a French artist, specialising in mime.
In partnership with the French embassy, the school is hosting Laurent who, over the past week, has been teaching a few students mime technique and application.
Strand Leader Sophie Naime says the project is for two weeks; this week is the last. The group is currently doing dry runs for the production to be staged on August 10 – 12.
Through his interpreter, Laurent said the story is built around the proposal by the students integrated with his.
“You have a French Mime – the technique is from French but all the story is built from traditional PNG culture. So the main line is Laurent’s but all the actions they are doing are proposed by the students,” he said.
Laurent was accompanied by Valerie Weiss – also an artist who specialises in making masks, puppets and all the accessories for theatre. Her specialty will be combined in the production.
According to the international artists, PNG art culture is quite popular in Europe. This enabled enough research prior to coming to the country.
“It’s been an experience,” says Naime, referring to the language barrier and cultural difference.
“First thing we had to break was the cultural barrier. So our students understanding him (Laurent) and him understanding us…took at least a week.
“But art is a universal language so obviously they’ve gotten by,” Naime added.
The first two days, August 10 – 11, will be the show by the students. The final day, August 12, will be a show by Laurent.
The show begins at 7pm, at the Ulli Beier Theatre, UPNG.