Human Statues…
Blog
How many of us would volunteer for a job that doesn’t require you to do anything at all except standing still?? I guess 90% of us would jump at this offer of not having to do anything at all!! But yes, there is a catch, you will have to get your face & sometimes hair painted!! So, there you go 50% of us have already backed out of the job!! And perhaps also have to wear a dress as if you are going for a fancy dress competition. Another 40% of those remaining also are planning to drop out!! And when the final condition is revealed I guess we won’t have any more volunteers!! For the last condition is that – you will have to stand motionless & emotionless – like a statue for over an hour at a time.
Yes, this is the job description of a Human Statute. For those who have not seen this phenomenon – just visit any festival ground in Europe and you will see these Human Statutes. The place where I first saw them was on the Walking streets of Bangkok & Pattaya in Thailand.
These artists dress up as fascinating characters – from mythology, from history or from stories and then after donning the costume & getting their face & hair painted they stand on the streets for long durations as still as a statue.
Its an amazing sight as 90% of the people when they first see a Human Statute will just give it a cursory glance and then walk past it, as if it was a statue!! Only a close inspection does tell them then that it’s a LIVE statue. The expression of surprise and the animated conversation that follows and efforts by people walking around to distract the Statute into doing something is the best part of the fun that follows.
The collections that people walking by put into their hat or box kept near the statute is the money that these artists make as their income. A busy day often brings in a good booty but a rainy day can render them jobless too!!
Following are Human Statutes from across Europe & Asia…Enjoy…and next time you see one, drop in a coin in their hat as a sign of recognition. I do it out of respect for their patience!!
