Ferrara Buskers Festival 2005 - Fringe Programs

在費拉拉街頭藝術節中，非音樂性的藝穗節目也是多采多姿，往往是可以看到藝術家們各顯創意的時候。
There are various fringe artists participating the buskers festival as well, perfect time to see the creativity of the artists.

吹氣球向來是街頭藝術中不可或缺的項目，每次在街頭藝術節中，至少也會看到四五個專精此道的藝術家。各色的長汽球在藝術家的手中，轉眼成了彩色貴賓狗、中世紀武士頭盔、寶劍、甚至卡通人物，讓人眼花撩亂。可惜的是，近年來已經很少看到自己動口吹的藝術家了，大部分人為了省力，都是用工具來打氣，在我眼中，總是少了那麼點味道…
The balloon artists are indispensable in the buskers. There’re at least four or five artists of this kind every year. Colorful balloons are turned into poodles, helmets of medieval warriors, swards or even cartoon characters. It’s a pity that most of the artists turn to balloon pump for help and don’t blow the balloon by themselves any more…

當然，也有那種看起來好像有點創意，實際上卻不太精采的表演，像這位號稱是「世界上最慢的人」，動作不太順暢，乍看之下也不知道他在做什麼，不過街頭藝術也是這一點有趣，有時，在你走過的當下並不會意識到這個藝術家在做什麼，而是後來的幕然回首，讓人回味無窮。
Of course, there’re certain kinds of performances that seem to be creative but eventually are not too successful. This man is said to be “the slowest man in the world”. At the first sight I didn’t realize what he’s doing, but later when I got to know it, his actions didn’t seem to be too smooth… However, that’s one of the interesting parts of the fringe arts. Sometimes when you walk by you won’t realize what the artists are doing. It’s when you think back that you start to enjoy its flavor.

觀賞街頭藝術，最可貴的就是表演者和觀眾之間的互動交流。精采之處，觀眾們忍不住鼓掌叫好，表演者一個微笑、一個眼神，呼應著觀眾，越演越有勁。照片裡這個團體，每個演出者都是技巧高超的操偶師，小舞台上的爵士禿鷹和鱷魚們，隨著音樂舞動，唯妙唯肖的演出，讓許多觀眾忍不住佇足多看兩眼。
The most precious thing in busker performances is the interaction (or I should say conversation) between the audience and the performers. The audience cheers when it comes to the spectacular parts of the show, and the performers answer back with a smile or an expression in his eyes. Both pump up energy for the show. Members of the group in the photo are all good puppet theater performers. The marvelous performance of the vulture and crocodiles attract lots of audiences’ attention.

特色商品也不會錯過推銷的機會。圖片中的每一個掌中玩偶，是用各種顏色的海綿切割組合而成，看了真是讓人愛不釋手，我差點就想帶幾個回家。
Makers and producers of characteristic products won’t miss the chance to promote their art pieces. The puppets here are made of various colors of sponge, cut and assembled. They look just lovely and I was almost about to bring some home.

特技表演當然也不會缺席。到了夜幕低垂之際，市中心的大廣場成了各種雜耍表演的主要場地，最多人圍觀的，無非是吞火、噴火、耍火棒等特技演出。
Acrobatic performances won’t miss its place in such event. When the night falls, the big square in the center is turned to the major location for various kinds of acrobatic shows. For sure the most attractive one is the fire eating/breathing kind of show.