Tam Teatromusica's Musical Painting Trilogy Blurs Art Boundaries

The Padua-based company Tam Teatromusica, founded in 1980 by Pierangela Allegro, Laurent Dupont, and Michele Sambin, recently performed two chapters of its painting trilogy at Teatro Mongiovino in Rome: 'Anima Blu' and 'Picablo', dedicated to Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso respectively, with a third on Paul Klee. The company's work challenges traditional disciplinary divides between painting and performance, using music as a compositional principle for stage events. 'Anima Blu' features performers Flavia Bussolotto and Marco Tizianel enacting rural life inspired by Chagall, with a trapezoidal screen and video projection creating hybrid figures. 'Picablo' presents Picasso's life in reverse, with Bussolotto and Alessandro Martinello as custodians of a traveling circus museum. Both employ digital painting—immaterial light-painting that vanishes after the show—using a graphics tablet in 'Anima Blu' and a Nintendo Wii Wiimote in 'Picablo'. The company also critiques the 'Teatro Ragazzi' label, arguing their work appeals to adults as well as children.