To Whom These Writings May Come, We Send Greetings!

TO THE SHIP, BROTHER, TO THE SHIP, IT GOES! IT GOES!

The Shyp Of Folys, 1494


THE SHIP OF FOOLS  *   The buffoon is the hallmark of the mediaeval culture of laughter that systematically turned the world bottom-up: the King is Fool! He challenged the divine order and, jingling with bells, rang modern times in. "The Ship of Fools" was the central part of a carnavalesque tradition that inspired artists like Hieronymus Bosch and Albrecht Durer and gave birth to a 'divina satira' called "The Shyp Of Folys", the world's first bestseller (Sebastian Brant, Basel, 1494). It became a timeless image of mankind adrift, of humanity abandoning God. Humanity no longer was the centre of the universe or Europe the centre of the world. This extravagant and systematic reversal of social conventions and relations incited a revolutionary development that would encompass the continents and would explode the sciences. That is the contribution of the carnavalesque tradition to the cultural heritage of Europe and Europe's contribution to the cultural heritage of humanity.

ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE          Shakespeare

COMIC THEATRE  *  Azart seeks to further the carnavalesque theatre that was in the history of the comic theatre the predecessor of the Commedia dell'Arte, Moliere and eventually the absurd theatre. It's a theatre language that's spontaneously welcomed and universally recognized, that works with traditional and modern archetypes and speaks in gestures rather then words. It speaks to children and through them the mothers. The central theme is the relation of people to society and environment, based on a reversal of the relation between ruler and subject, the poor and rich, man and woman, child and adult. It holds the mirror up to the audience to reflect human virtues and vices and the truths and lies of society in a world upside down. As illustrated by the king's jester it explicitly invites to social satire and political comment, the more so thanks to the laughter of the public, the oldest of all theatre rituals.

E LA NAVE VA                                            Fellini



Their ship, transformed into a bizarre sculpture, provides for the crew a home, kitchen, theatre/TV-studio and transport alike. All equipment and facilities are on board. She is a 30-meter, 1916 built, fishing boat, one of the last sailships typical of the beginning of the XIX-th century, well known in her former homeport Scheveningen. As part of the Dutch cultural heritage the ship has been subsidised by the Prins Bernard Cultural Foundation.

PASSION FOR GAMBLING              Azart in Russian, XVIII century


 

ACTIVITIES * Azart promotes the local cultural climate by looking for a cross-cultural collaboration with artists collectives and social activists. The crew, itself coming from three continents, invites actors or musicians, directors, scriptwriters, costume or film makers. Through workshops a joint production is created and subsequently shown in neighboring cities and/or countries. Part of the programme are visits to high dignitaries and to social cultural institutes such as orphanages, prisons or psychiatric hospitals. The entrance to the performances is generally gauged by the weight of the spectator or else paid with victuals or presents. With her theatre and film Azart supports local initiatives on human and environmental rights and free media.

NAVIGARE NECESSE EST        Pompeius, 68 BC




A MODERN MARITIME STORY   *   Azart produces a filmed narrative cycle of short and longer stories, a modern urban legend about a meeting of cultures that portrays the people and their way of life. With this Azart seeks to expand her audience to a bigger public by informing about cultural developments in far away places. At the same time this allows to stay in contact with her homeport and with other cities, while building a network of similar initiatives.

SAILED TO THE EAST      Subtitle on Azart Square, 1994



DESTINATION * The destinations are the old trading routes. The ship stays in every cultural region (Morocco, Turkey, Caribbean, South-America, South-Africa, Asia) for a year or more working on joint projects. Each destination is a distinct artistic project with local themes explored and local artists participating.