Walking Performance Art

I had heard about a strange, steampunkish birdman walking performance art act a few months ago but hadn’t been able to catch a performance until today, in Shinjuku. I was walking up the stairs from the JR Head Office building and basically found myself being charged by this exotic and amazing beast half man, half bird, leather, brass, steam and metal. The best part about this absolutely surreal vision was all the people who just didn’t notice him, or pretended not to notice him! It was hilarious to watch him strike a pose in a shadow, wait a few moments and then stalk off almost enveloping a pram or young couple in his wings. What a power trip! I also got to see him chase kids around, annoy business men and play tag with a bunch of school girls. The artist call his act “nani-sole”, but I know nothing more than this and that the suit is home made. Nani-sole is of course a play on words, nanisore, or “What’s that?!”.

This is the kind of performance art I can never get enough of! Doesn’t the beak remind you of the old European plague doctors, and his stilts like the landstriders from the movie Dark Crystal? I also shot some video, but let me warn you before hand, the video sucks. It’s a pain to watch, so don’t bother unless you are really interested in this performance.