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Shadow theater pioneer Rainer Reusch is retiring!
Rainer Reusch, shadow theater pioneer, says goodbye after 35 years. A look back at his life's work in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Shadow theater pioneer Rainer Reusch is retiring!
The shadow theater pioneer Rainer Reusch retires from active activities at the age of 85 and becomes an observer of the fascinating world of shadow play. After almost four decades of passion and dedication, he leaves behind an impressive legacy. “I have spent 35 years of my life, every day and on a voluntary basis, making known the contemporary shadow theaters and their art scattered all over the world,” explains Reusch as he strolls through the “shadow rich” museum in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
His journey began in 1982 with the premiere of the Gmünder Schattentrio at the “Gmünder Strip” cultural festival. From then on, numerous appearances in schools and public events followed. Despite initial skepticism about shadow play in Western culture, where the word “shadow” often has negative connotations, Reusch was not discouraged. He founded the International Shadow Theater Center in 1989 to create a platform for artists and interested parties. “Back then, the world’s stages didn’t even know each other,” he remembers.
A museum for shadow art
The collection of shadow figures from all over the world grew over the years and eventually led to the idea of a museum of its own. At first this was laughed at, but when Reusch planned to give his figures to a Berlin shadow museum, things started to move. “The breakthrough comes with Mayor Richard Arnold,” he emphasizes. The museum was finally realized in the new VGW building in Mohrengässle and is now a place of encounter and exchange for shadow players worldwide.
Reusch's creative streak was something he was born with. Growing up in a musical environment, he discovered his passion for art at an early age. His great moments, such as the visit from Karen Smith, President of the World Association of Puppeteers, are confirmation of his work. The successes of his career have been recognized several times, including the Citizens' Medal and the Federal Cross of Merit. Rainer Reusch has had a significant impact on shadow theater in Germany and has left a lasting mark on the cultural scene.