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Kami MarceauArtist, daughter of Marcel Marceau
Country:
 France |
Content:
- Kamie Marso: A Biography of the Daughter of Marcel Marceau
- The Dream of a Mime Museum
- The Fate of Marcel Marceau's Legacy
- A Lifelong Performer and Artist
- The Closure of the International School of Mime
- The Artistic Talent of Marcel Marceau
- A Man of Solitude
- The Recognition Abroad
- A Life Devoted to Theatre
- The Silent Home
- A Loving yet Absent Father
Kamie Marso: A Biography of the Daughter of Marcel Marceau
Kamie Marso, a 38-year-old artist and daughter of the famous mime Marcel Marceau, recently spoke to a Paris correspondent of "Izvestia" about the auction of her father's unique collection and personal belongings. The auction, which is set to take place at the "Drouot" auction house in Paris at the end of May, will feature approximately 1000 lots, including paintings, furniture, silverware, Russian icons, musical automata, books, and stage costumes. Several thousand photographs capturing Marcel Marceau with famous politicians and artists, ranging from Jawaharlal Nehru, Francois Mitterrand, and Bill Clinton to Yul Brynner, Anthony Quinn, and Rudolf Nureyev, will also be sold. Additionally, paintings that Marcel Marceau created throughout his long life will be up for auction.
The Dream of a Mime Museum
Marcel Marceau had a vision of transforming his home into a Museum of Mime. However, his children did not fulfill this parental wish. Kamie Marso explained that her father had accumulated significant debts during his lifetime as he financed most of his projects with his own money and had to resort to taking loans when funds were insufficient. Consequently, after his death, all of his assets, including his house, were seized and placed under arrest by court order to cover the debt.
The Fate of Marcel Marceau's Legacy
When asked what would happen if the proceeds from the auction were insufficient to repay the creditors, Kamie Marso expressed concern that their family home in Berger-sur-Verg, near Paris, might have to be sold. Despite their efforts to prevent the sale, including reaching out to various institutions, including the French Ministry of Culture, they were unsuccessful. Kamie Marso expressed her disappointment with the French government's treatment of one of its finest artists, who tirelessly represented its culture for decades.
A Lifelong Performer and Artist
Marcel Marceau continued to perform even in his old age until his death in September 2007. His last tours took place in Latin America and Cuba in 2005 when he was already 82 years old. According to Kamie Marso, her father couldn't live without being on stage, and in addition to his love for performing, he had practical reasons for continuing to work - to repay his debts.
The Closure of the International School of Mime
Marcel Marceau had founded the International School of Mime in Paris, but the city authorities closed it in 2005. This closure deeply saddened him, as he felt unappreciated in his own country despite being celebrated worldwide.
The Artistic Talent of Marcel Marceau
Marcel Marceau, who had studied at an art school, was an exceptional painter. He drew inspiration from fairy tales, pantomime, and the circus. His artistic style was influenced by artists such as Marc Chagall and Belgian painter James Ensor. Marcel Marceau also painted religious themes, including "Cain and Abel" and "The Creation of the World." On his paintings, he often depicted himself as his iconic stage character, Bip.
A Man of Solitude
Marcel Marceau often appeared as a lonely figure both on stage and in his personal life. According to Kamie Marso, her father felt lonely and struggled with existential issues. He constantly pondered the questions of good and evil and couldn't comprehend how human beings, as God's creation, were capable of the worst atrocities. Marcel Marceau also suffered greatly from the loss of his father, who perished in a concentration camp.
The Recognition Abroad
Marcel Marceau received much more recognition abroad than in his own country. He had a deep affection for Russia, as his mother was born in Ukraine, and his father was from Poland. This connection to Slavic roots made him feel at home in Russia.
A Life Devoted to Theatre
Despite having appeared in films by renowned directors such as Charlie Chaplin, Alain Resnais, Mel Brooks, and Roger Vadim, Marcel Marceau remained primarily a man of the theatre. He respected and appreciated the art of cinema but ultimately preferred the stage.
The Silent Home
Marcel Marceau had a reputation for enjoying silence even at home. There were days when he wouldn't utter a single word, engrossed in reading, reflecting, and preparing for his performances. However, when he was in a good mood, he could make his family laugh by performing impromptu acts during meals. Despite not knowing many languages, he had a remarkable ability to imitate the speech patterns of people from different countries.
A Loving yet Absent Father
Marcel Marceau had four children, two sons from his first marriage and two daughters from his second. However, due to his busy schedule with up to 300 performances per year, he had little time to spend with his children.
