Activity

PAIR STATUES

Number of participants

Up to 20 participants (pair number)

Objectives

● To encourage participants to use their bodies and facial expressions to create an image.
● To foster concentration and observation.
● To train the memory.
● Introduce participants to creative processes and performance.

Where does the activity take place within the process

Beginning

Duration

20 minutes

Material needed

Preparation

Prepare the room/space so that it is as spacious as it can be, without obstacles.

Step by step description

This exercise is a gentle introduction to still images:

1. Divide the group into pairs and ask each pair to decide who is A and who is B.

– A prepares an image with their body while B is turned away.

– At A’s signal, B watches A and studies A’s pose.

– B turns away when they have memorised the image.

– A makes three changes. They should hold their original pose and make 3 distinct changes from that position rather than creating the new pose from scratch. When A is ready, they should tell B to watch the new pose.

– B identifies the changes.

2. Repeat the above steps several times, swapping roles back and forth, so both A’s and B’s get to pose and observe.

3. After a few minutes, ask participants to find a new partner and repeat the exercise in the newly formed pairs.
4. Repeat, this time with Double Pair Statues:

5. Ask two pairs to join up:
– As before, this time one pair creates a joint image while the other pair is not looking.
– The other pair studies the image and turns away.
– The first pair makes 4 changes between them (2 each).
– The other pair works as a team to identify the changes.

6. Repeat several times, swapping roles back and forth.

Closing up

Ask participants questions:

● What skills do you think this exercise develops?
● Did you notice any changes as the exercise progressed?

Resources

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Comments / hints for facilitators

Pair Statues uses reverse psychology to get participants performing - the observer (audience) not the performer is under the spotlight. It helps to develop concentration and observation skills and is a useful exercise for introducing participants to the discipline of stillness. Double Pair Statues builds on the skills introduced in the previous exercise. Students continue to perform, this time working in tandem with a partner. This gives participants the opportunity to create more elaborate statues and to experience working creatively and collaboratively with their peers. It is important to demonstrate the steps of the exercise at the start. Work with one volunteer to show the group the sequence.
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