Inez van Dam lives and works in Rotterdam opposite the so-called “Buttplug Gnome,” a controversial public sculpture by contemporary American artist Paul McCarthy, whose work is known for satirizing mass media and consumerism. After receiving a US grant, Dutch theatre collective Wunderbaum brings Inez to LA to help her confront McCarthy and to develop her story as part of their residency.
The resulting work documents their journey and artistic process that explodes — sometimes very messily — into a debate on aesthetics and the politics and meaning of public art. Excessive, witty and rabidly unconcerned with decorum, Looking for Paul is a detailed and engrossing mixture of fact and fiction, parody and homage.
Advisory: nudity
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, April 27, 8pm + Pre-show Tea
Thursday, April 28, 8pm + followed by Talkshow
Friday, April 29, 8pm
Saturday, April 30, 8pm
Harbourfront Centre Theatre
Tickets: $34, $15 for students & youth 29 and under
Box Office: 416-973-4000
http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage/looking-for-paul-inez-van-dam-vs-the-buttplug-gnome
EXTRAS:
**Pre-show Tea**
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 – 7pm
Join us for a series of Pre-show Teas with our World Stage Scholars-in-Residence. Admission is free with the purchase of a ticket to the opening performance of Looking for Paul.
Looking for Paul is many things at once: it is a performance about shocking works of art; it is a performance that stages a discussion about how art can shock; it is itself a shocking work of art. Join us in a challenging pre-show “Devil’s Advocate”-style discussion, facilitated by World Stage Scholars-in-Residence Denise Cruz and Matthew Sergi – who will take on, for argument’s sake, the opinion directly opposite from whatever has most recently been said – and who will playfully encourage you to do the same. Come out early and try out different and opposing opinions, just to see what fits, as we tackle tough questions about where and whether lines should be drawn – especially at publicly funded institutions like Harbourfront – between challenging art and harmful offense, between free speech and aggressive intrusion, between the private and the public.
**Talkshow**
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Following this evening’s performance, connect with the artists as they field your questions and discuss the work you’ve just seen. It’s the most direct behind-the-scenes access you can get. Admission is free with the purchase of your ticket.
Looking for Paul
by Wunderbaum, Red Cat, Richard Jordan Productions, Big in Belgium, Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Summerhall
For more information including photos and video, please visit:
http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage/looking-for-paul-inez-van-dam-vs-the-buttplug-gnome
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