Shadowgraphy (performing art)

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For performances with the shadows of puppet figures, see shadow play. For other uses, see Shadowgraphy (disambiguation).
Hand shadows of various creatures
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Performing arts

Shadowgraphy or ombromanie is the art of performing a story or show using images made by hand shadows. It can be called "cinema in silhouette". Performers are titled as a shadowgraphist or shadowgrapher.

The art has declined since the late 19th century when electricity became available to homes because light bulbs and electric lamps do not give off good shadows and because cinema and television were becoming a new form of entertainment. Shadows are greatly defined by candlelight; therefore hand shadows were common in earlier centuries.

The modern art of hand shadows was made popular by the French entertainer Félicien Trewey in the 19th century.[1] He popularized the art by making silhouettes of famous personalities.

History

An 1889 advertisement with examples of hand shadows

Shadows have existed since the existence of objects obstructing light, so it is hard to say when the art was first used by humans for entertainment. It could have been practiced by ancient or later humans, but it probably originated in the

shadow puppetry called Ombres Chinoises (known in china as the pi ying xi(皮影戏)), which means "Chinese shadows". He popularized the art of hand shadows when he developed shadows of famous silhouettes. It then became popular in Europe
in the 19th century.

Although the art is popular amongst different kinds of entertainers it seems prominent amongst magicians, because it was popularized by a magician who inspired many other magicians.

Fu Manchu (David Theodore Bamberg). Fu Manchu passed his skill to Marcelo Contento, one of his apprentices, who became famous worldwide for it.[5]
Contento died before he could pass it on to his son.

Other magicians who used hand shadows in their act include

Holden and Graham in which Holden was famous for his "Monkey in the Belfry" shadow.[3]

Performance

A hand shadow being thrown

The hands and fingers are exercised and different finger positions are practiced to help aid in forming shadows.

The light source to be used should be small and bright. The best shadows come from light proceeding from the smallest possible point.

acetylene gas (i.e. acetylene gas lamp or carbide lamp).[7]
Nowadays it is possible to use a single lensless (for example, SMD) LED.

Albert Almoznino suggests to use a white or light-colored wall, sheet or table cloth for a small audience as in a private home. If a wall is dark-colored, the sheet or table cloth can be hung against it. If performing for a large audience such as in an auditorium or on a stage, he suggests a screen made of

rear projection screen, but the light must be stronger like a small spotlight without the projector, lenses, or diffusers, or a motion-picture projector with the front lenses removed.[2]

The performer sits or stands between the light source and the blank surface, while having the option to perform in front of the performance surface or behind it, with each having different advantages. The performer has another option to perform from the left or the right of the light source. The farther the hands are from the light, the smaller the shadows will be, while the closer the hands are to the light, the larger the shadows will be. Also, the closer the hands are to the blank surface, the sharper the shadows will be. Trewey suggests that the most convenient distance for the light from the hands is four feet while the hands from the performance surface should be about six feet. The performer should always watch their shadows instead of their hands.

Movement helps give the shadows character and brings them to life. Some shadows are performed with accessories attached to the hands or fingers to achieve movements or images not applicable to hands alone.

Notable shadowgraphers

Books

  • Hand Shadows to be Thrown Upon the Wall by Henry Bursill (1859)
  • Hand Shadows - Second Series by Henry Bursill (1860)
  • Home Fun by Cecil H. Bullivant (1910)--contains a chapter on Hand Shadows
  • The Art of Shadowgraphy - How it is Done by Trewey (1920)
  • Hand Shadows: The Complete Art of Shadowgraphy by Lois Nikola (1921)
  • The Art of Hand Shadows by Albert Almoznino (1970)
  • Shadowplay by George Mendoza and Prasanna Rao (1974)

References

  1. ^ "Quick Change Artistry".
  2. ^ a b The Art of Hand Shadows by Albert Almoznino
  3. ^ a b "Shadowgraphy - Magicpedia". www.geniimagazine.com.
  4. ^ a b Trewey, Felicien (Aug 19, 2020). "The art of shadowgraphy; how it is done". London Jordison – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ MUM Magazine, March 2000. Society of American Magicians. 2000. p. 26.
  6. ISBN 9781443719049
    – via Google Books.
  7. ISBN 9781443719049
    – via Google Books.

External links
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