Institut Ramon LLull

Borja González: ‘Sand is, by its nature, a magical element’

Performing.  Avignon, 08/07/2014

Rêves de Sable, the show the illustrator Borja González and the Ytuquepintas company are presenting at Avignon à la Catalane, is different from what the audience usually expect when they go to the theatre. Borja needs only his hands and sand on a piece of glass: the illustrator brings us stories full of emotion projected onto a large screen; with just a movement of his hand the atmospheres change and scenes follow on one another. Pure invention and creation that leave no-one indifferent. And all accompanied by a live performance by the keyboard player Roc Sala. We talk to him about his show and his participation in the festival. 




The show you’re presenting at the festival is different from the creations we’re used to seeing, since the main tool is sand. How is the show structured?

Dreams of Sand offers the audience different atmospheres which respond to the continuity of the whole life of our protagonist. The introduction presents the dreamlike period when a child’s dreams awaken and continues with his experiences as an adult, ending with the poetic and almost cathartic longing of old age.

You work with puppets, with the circus, with sand... The show takes in all these techniques and disciplines?

The concept uses different elements, essential ingredients that enable me to tell the story and are part of the fantasy conveyed. I consider that sand is, by its nature, a magical element and constant change; live music, the puppets and the universe of the circus allow me to gather together all the ingredients of the story.

How did you start to use sand as a creative tool?

As a circus performer and illustrator I’ve always tried to bring the visual arts to the stage: painting on a large format easel or doing pictures on a revolving canvas, making use of acrobatics and balance. And so, quite naturally and self-taught, about eight years ago I introduced Art with Sand into my life and I’ve devoted a great deal of the effort and investigation in my creative process to it.

Is it a work aimed at children or will adults like it as well?

When I decided to present Dreams of Sand I didn’t think of a specific audience, but of proposing a show that would reach children, parents and grandparents differently. In that way each age interprets and enjoys the story by bringing it to their moment in life.

Is there a place for improvisation in the show?

Of course. The story of Dreams of Sand has its own evolution and although the guiding thread is always the same, it adjusts to the audience or the venue. On the other hand, since it’s such an ephemeral art, each show is unique and the difference is always marked by the audience.

What are your expectations for the festival?

In see the Avignon Festival as a great platform packed with opportunities for companies. I’m trying to grow as an artist, enjoy other shows and get drunk on the madness of the city during those days. Most of all I come because I like my work, it springs naturally in me and I enjoy it to the point where I can speak of it as a lovely way of life.

The Ytuquepintas company presents Rêves de Sable (Dreams of Sand) at Avignon à la Catalane

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