The backstage way…

The difficulties that I initially encountered in improving my knowledge regarding the art of illusion made me buy some books about this theme. Due to the unsuccessful results, I proceeded gathering information in public libraries and, despite some disappointment, I ended digging every used bookstores, where I gradually found stimulating results.

The analysis I made from the different books I read about this interesting matter made me realise that the true essence of this art is based on sciences like physics, mathematics, chemistry and others… in fields like electricity, mechanics, optics, psychology, which provide effects of animation, anomaly, antigravity, attraction, control, disappearance, fail, ability, identification, invulnerability, reading, penetration, perception, prediction, production, reconstitution, sympathy, transformation, transmission, transposition, etc. In theses effects, seriousness is put in evidence in an unequivocal way and overcomes the easy trend to make arbitrary interpretations, like what happens with occultism and mistake.

Facing this reality, I decided to make an intensive search, hoping to gather information about the most diverse matters: anamorphosis, automatisms, magic cards, circus, equilibrium, balloon sculptures, faqirism, hypnotism, illusionism, levitation, magic, magnetism, juggling, puppets, mentalism, mnemonics, mimics, music, origami, fireworks, prestidigitation, silhouettes, hand shadows, tangram, theatre, telepathy, transformation, ventriloquism, etc. - all of them related with the recreational arts.

By the end of several working years, the efforts were fruitful.

After having obtained a copy of each of the most known books published in Portugal, I also succeed in buying foreign editions.

However, this theme doesn't end or completes itself in literature.

Hence, I started looking for costumes and equipment. In Portugal, I found pieces from diverse specialities, provenance and time, from the most remote to the present ones. Abroad, I bought pieces made by the most famous manufacturers and/or sellers from the whole world.

At last, I added to this considerable set of objects other paraphernalia such as: posters, photos, programs, press cuts, videos, etc.

I then started to develop a database to organize and classify all the acquired material.

Based in this summary of ideas and facts, already experienced in the most developed countries, I open here the way to its public dissemination, expressing hence my tribute to the Art and to the Recreational Culture.

Tony Klauf