Pop-up Paper Sculptures for SALTICE

I, Peter Dahmen (), created these pop-up paper sculptures as scenography for SALTICE – a children’s opera by Ruben Zahra () for the Bad Ischl Salzkammergut European Capital of Culture 2024. More information at: SALTICE connects children with professional artists for an interdisciplinary production which includes storytelling, music, dance, paper art and videography. The story, written by Susanne Felicitas Wolf, is inspired by the regional treasure trove of legends, the history of salt mining and the famous ice caves of the Austrian Salzkammergut. The vision of composer and director Ruben Zahra is to adopt paper as the primary material for the costumes, props and set design through the application of origami techniques, pop-up sculptures and paper engineering. The contemporary aesthetic of the mise-en-scène is also reflected in the music and the dances choreographed by Silke Grabinger. SALTICE includes the participation of a children’s choir, a music ensemble, professional dancers with students from the Landesmusikschule under the direction of Wilhelm Zelch. Silke Grabinger: choreography | Peter Dahmen: Pop-up paper sculptures | Polly Verity: Costumes, Props and Puppets | Kaori Kato: Additional Costumes | Sonja Zobel: narrator | Hannah Punch: Violin I | Elena Anreiter: Violin II | Johanna Zillinger: viola | Annemaria Kohlndorfer: Cello | Michael Waldl: percussion | students at the Landesmusikschule in Laakirchen | Wilhelm Zelch: conductor | Susanne Kao: dance teacher | Kerstin Glachs: Project manager