Martin JagoAnimatronics · Puppets · SFX

Vulu23

NZIAF/The Conch
August 2020 - July 2021

Martin designed and made every creature for Vulu23, The Conch's production for the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Puppet Supervisor - Martin Jago

Puppet Design & Supervision

Puppet Creator and builder for the devised workshop mounting based on Fijian folklore. Produced by The Conch, it was intended for the 2022 New Zealand International Arts festival, but unfortunately an early casualty of COVID. Turtles painted and co-constructed by Daisey Bingham. Additional puppet making by Anna Bailey.

Video

Behind the scenes

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  • Workshop bench covered in power tools, adhesive tins and sandpaper, with a small painted turtle on a brass stand and white foam fin shapes

    Workshop Bench Mess

  • Black foam turtle puppet body lying beside a smaller painted turtle maquette with a steel ruler on a worn metal workbench

    Maquette Scale Comparison

  • Four crew hold the large black mother turtle puppet in a high roofed workshop while one raises the baby turtle overhead

    Workshop Mother and Baby

  • Daisey leans in to fit a white fabric covered fin to a black foam turtle puppet hung on a clothes rack in the workshop

    Daisey Fitting a Fin

  • Black foam baby turtle shell pinned with numbered markers on a cluttered table, beside the open mechanism frame and a heat gun

    Baby Turtle Top and Bottom on the Bench

  • Close up of the black foam turtle head with a red mechanical eyelid around a glossy black eye, one of the crew blurred behind

    Fitting Blinks to the Daughter

  • Baby turtle puppet upside down in a wicker basket with painted flippers raised while one of the crew fits white stretch fabric to the neck

    Upturned Baby Turtle

  • Test patch of brown and cream paint on a white stretch fabric covered fin shape lying on grey card

    Fins Paint Test

  • Large black foam mother turtle shell under construction in a home studio with the small baby turtle behind and one of the crew working

    Mother and Baby Shell Scale

  • Blue grey baby turtle puppet with a black head and white stretch fabric neck, a lamp glowing behind its head

    Baby Turtle Spotlight Profile

  • Close up of the baby turtle shell painted with radiating brown, cream and green brush strokes inside raised white scute lines

    Painted Shell Markings

  • Close up of the finished baby turtle face, showing a glossy black eye ringed with painted scales against a teal background

    Finished Baby Closeup

  • Finished baby turtle puppet in three quarter view, with painted shell, patterned flippers and a large black eye against a deep teal backdrop

    Finished Baby Head

  • Side profile of the finished baby turtle head and neck, with wrinkled painted skin and a glossy eye, above a patterned flipper

    Finished Baby Neck

  • Finished baby turtle puppet seen from the side and above on thin rods, showing the painted shell and patterned flippers against a dark teal backdrop

    Finished Baby Side

  • Finished baby turtle puppet seen from behind on slender rods, showing the painted shell, outstretched rear flippers and two front flippers

    Finished Baby Back

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