The Vessel

In the performing arts, puppets and masks are tools used by actors to bring characters to life.
bring characters to life. In the ancient ceremonial use of these objects, they were
intended to inhabit a ​‘soul’, to house it like a vessel and allow it to live once more.
again.
Matt’s work walks the line between these worlds. Even immobile in exhibition, his aim
is for the masks and objects to feel alive.
The desired result requires a sensitive process of sculpting their subtle expressions,
combined with the choice of materials. He uses wood, paper, organic glues and clay, because he believes that these materials carry a vibrancy of meaning.
believes that these materials carry a vibration of life that can be perceived by an audience.
Housed in the inspiring Project(ion) Room, the work will inhabit different locations to create an environment in which to wander, explore and contemplate.
create an environment in which to wander, explore and contemplate. Most of the
pieces come from Matt’s personal collection, such as paper masks and ash puppets, well
although several objects are borrowed from former clients. Large
photographic prints of his work by Teis Albers are also on display.
On Sunday 19 and Monday 20, the works will literally come to life in two site-specific, largely improvised performances.
site-specific and largely improvised performances. Matt will be working with performance artist Ruben
Mardulier and musician Jean-Jacques Duerinckx, and together they will allow the objects and the atmosphere to determine the stories they tell.
and atmosphere to determine the stories they wish to share. A sleeping puppet
can suddenly wake up as a floating mask appears from hidden corners…
Inspiration for the performance work comes from physical theatre, butoh dance and Japanese mask and puppet theatre.
Japanese mask and puppet theatre.

BIO
MATT JACKSON is a professional puppet and mask maker for film, theatre and fine art with over
and fine arts with over 20 years’ experience. Originally from the USA, he is now
now based in the Netherlands where he creates commissioned work and produces his own
performances and exhibitions. Some of his creations are used by master puppeteer Kanroku
in Osaka, Japan; the Ulrike Quade company in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Créa-Théâtre in Tournai,
Belgium, and many others.
Her personal research focuses on the use of organic/non-toxic materials and methods.
toxic materials and methods. And an awareness of sustainability in the arts also inspires her to work
with ​‘found objects’ which add an element of unpredictability to his design process.
Matt regularly runs professional making courses at his studio in
​’s-Hertogenbosch, and has also taught at the Figurteatret i Nordland (Stamsund, Norway); at the
École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette (Charleville-Mézières, France); at the Centre de
la Marionnette (Belgium) and at the Central School of Speech and Drama (UK).