Puppetry is our emotional prosthetic it gives voice to the things we cannot say. – Emma Fisher
Corina Duyn’s creative story dates back to her early years. Making her first doll aged 10 and her first puppet aged 15. Her professional doll and puppet making came after a move to Ireland in 1989. Her Fantasy Folk work is in private and corporate collections.
Being involved in the creative arts has been an invaluable support to Corina to bring understanding in her journey through the illness ME. (1998). One of her first drawings during illness was that of a puppet – questioning ‘who is holding the strings’. (The drawing can be seen in her lecture blog posts and videos). She has often remarked: ‘Puppetry forced me to look deep into the reality of my illness. Poetry defined the experience.’
When having reached a (temporary) improvement in her health Corina facilitated the ‘Life Outside the Box’ puppetry project in 2015. This was followed by teaching puppet making classes in her studio in Lismore. As well as delving into researching the power of the puppet. She received invitations to give lectures at universities, symposia and puppet festivals as a result.
Life is always changing and so is her creative ability. Since 2018 Corina has not been able make puppets, but some were used to tell the story of moving into full time care in 2021, in the ‘I brought the dream of flying’ exhibition at GOMA in 2023.
Below is her puppetry journey in some detail, including links.
Fantasy Folk (1990-1998)
Moving to Ireland from her native Netherlands saw the start of Corina’s Fantasy FolkArtist Dolls and Puppets. She had her work in shops and had solo exhibitions. She also did private and corporate commissions, including for Waterford Crystal. Her work was often featured in the media, including on television.
In 1998 she taught a month long puppet making course with two young art students from Finland in her studio. She also taught puppet making in a group home for teenagers in the months before illness changed her life. Decades later she still feels she let these wonderful young people down by suddenly having to give up teaching due to illness.
Corina Duyn facilitated the Life Outside the Box Project (2015/6) while a member of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Dungarvan Resource Centre. The film, depicting puppets stepping out of the disability box, has since been screened in Canada, London and on Irish national television. Supported by Create- Artist in the community scheme. See case study Create – Artist in the Community Arts Council of Ireland.
Corina’s main puppets from about 2014 to 2019 were The Reflection Girls, Póilin, and Dance of Life. There are many blog posts (put relevant query in search box) if you like to read more. Including: Puppet design dictated by illness/disability as well as videos on YouTube.Com/@corinaduyn
Corina recorded this lecture on the role of puppetry in exploring life with illness/disability in 2021 (00.49mim) as giving lectures, even online became impossible. This work can also bring greater understanding in society’s believes and expectations about life with illness and disability. The Power of the Puppet. English, Dutch and Spanish subtitles available. Shorter Transcript lecture 2019.
Corina spend many years teaching students in her studio, to share the magic of the puppet. On request she later supported students online, resulting in a series of videos and online books. In 2021 Corina could no longer support students and decided to make all her teaching materials FREE toaccess online as a self directed course. See on this page what is included. See YouTube channel – choose playlist ‘puppet making, and online books on ISSUU . These resources are interchangeable.Some material might suggest available support, but this is no longer the case.Nationwide RTE1 Irish Television 2018 (07.26min) visited Corina and her puppet making students in her studio.
Corina moved into long term care in April 2021, ages 59. Through Waterford Healing Arts (Realta) Corina worked with Artist Caroline Schofield. Although this was not an initial plan their collaboration became the ‘I brought the dream of flying’ exhibition at GOMA, Supported by Creative Ireland, where her existing puppets took on the story of moving into long term care. See video of exhibition visit See Arts+HealthCase Study.
The Puppets live on
The ‘Girl Puppets’ and Octopus puppet now live their lives in Spain and are part of International Puppet Therapy School, BCN Andrea ad Polo share Corina’s work in the module on puppetry and disability.
For many puppet related videos for example ‘Travels with ME’ which tells the story of Póilin Puppet (the only puppet still with Corina) and ‘Dance of Life’, and many more see Corina’syoutube channel.
Little Wings Creative Archive
Corina’s 30 year Little Wings creative archive, including puppetry, can be visited at the Réalta Centre of Arts + Health in Waterford, Ireland. For information and booking, please see Réalta website.
