The Kipper Kids
Encyclopedia
The Kipper Kids are contemporary artists who live and work in New York
, USA, and Scarborough, United Kingdom
.
are a performance duo. They met in 1970 at East 15 Acting School
. After months of improvisation they invented a character they called Harry Kipper
and began experimenting with different theatrical formats to use him in. Upon being expelled for being "too experimental" they took to the road, touring constantly.
In 1974 David Ross, later director of the Whitney Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
saw them in performance at Gallerie Rudolf Zwirner in Cologne and invited them to do some shows in California. Despite having studiously avoided being part of a movement, they found themselves associated with the early years of punk
in Los Angeles.Most of their performance work, however, took place in Europe.
In 1982 they stopped actively collaborating, performing as The Kipper Kids only occasionally.
Routh was married to net.art pioneer Nina Sobell from 1975-1981. From 1981-1987 he was married to performance artist Karen Finley
Von Haselberg has been married to Bette Midler
since 1984.
Quoting from an announcement for the Berkeley University Arts Museum: "Through actions that at times stress the visual, and the violent aspects of social rituals, the British Team of Harry and Harry Kipper perform in a fashion that combines the zany theatrics of Spike Milligan
with a scatological slapstick
that is all their own". Routh and von Haselberg created elaborate but purposely low-tech installations in which they would perform "ceremonies" using mostly found objects. Examples are "Tea Ceremony" (1972) a Japanese Tea Ceremony
inspired piece and "Boxing Ceremony" (1972) in which one performer beats himself until bloodied whilst the other acts as referee. Japanese rituals, English Music Hall
, Viennese Actionism
, and the work of Samuel Becket were amongst their influences.
The Kipper Kids made two projects for television. For HBO they produced Mum's Magic Mulch, and for Cinemax, K.O. Kippers, while the Kids also appeared in a 1982 project for HBO executive produced by von Haselberg, "The Mondo Beyondo Show," a one-off variety show of sorts for performance artists (including a pre-Stomp Yes/No People, La La La Human Steps
, Bill Irwin
, Paul Zaloom
and others) hosted by Bette Midler's Mondo Beyondo character. Von Haselberg made a number of films at American Film Institute with Routh in the lead role: "Quiet Lives" (1991), "People Are No Damn Good" (1991) and "Your Turn To Roll It #54" (1992). They also appeared as characters in the 1980 film Forbidden Zone
and the 1989 film UHF
. The Kipper Kids also performed a song in 1991 comedy film The Addams Family
— "Playmates" which can be heard in the film and on its soundtrack. They also starred in the 1990 comedy film The Spirit of '76.
Currently Martin von Haselberg has created a series of large photographic images made into inflatable sculptural shapes titled,' Floatulents', and Brian Routh is working on working on soundworks that incorporate vocal soundbites of world leaders, politicians, madmen, poets, murderers and others as well as an ongoing collaboration with digital media artist Patricia Wells on soundtracks for animations and video works.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA, and Scarborough, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Biography
Martin von Haselberg and Brian RouthBrian Routh
-Biography:Brian Routh was born March 9, 1948 in Gateshead, County Durham, United Kingdom. He grew up in a working class family with parents that were considered rebellious talkers and story tellers. Brian Routh's, mother's grandfather “James Diston” was a bare knuckle prize fighter who ran a...
are a performance duo. They met in 1970 at East 15 Acting School
East 15 Acting School
East 15 is a British drama school in Debden, Loughton, Essex. At the main campus, Loughton, it occupies an 18th century mansion, Hatfields, and has its own theatre, the Corbett, which is adjacent. The Corbett Theatre is an adaptation of a 15th-century barn...
. After months of improvisation they invented a character they called Harry Kipper
Harry Kipper
Harry Kipper was the pseudonym created by the performance art duo the Kipper Kids who were known as Harry and Harry Kipper. Based on a family friend of Kipper Kid and performance Artist, Brian Routh, the name Harry was added as a first name for each Kipper Kid in 1971...
and began experimenting with different theatrical formats to use him in. Upon being expelled for being "too experimental" they took to the road, touring constantly.
In 1974 David Ross, later director of the Whitney Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
saw them in performance at Gallerie Rudolf Zwirner in Cologne and invited them to do some shows in California. Despite having studiously avoided being part of a movement, they found themselves associated with the early years of punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
in Los Angeles.Most of their performance work, however, took place in Europe.
In 1982 they stopped actively collaborating, performing as The Kipper Kids only occasionally.
Routh was married to net.art pioneer Nina Sobell from 1975-1981. From 1981-1987 he was married to performance artist Karen Finley
Karen Finley
Karen Finley is an American performance artist, whose theatrical pieces and recordings have often been labelled "obscene" due to their graphic depictions of sexuality, abuse, and disenfranchisement...
Von Haselberg has been married to Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
since 1984.
Performance artists
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
with a scatological slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
that is all their own". Routh and von Haselberg created elaborate but purposely low-tech installations in which they would perform "ceremonies" using mostly found objects. Examples are "Tea Ceremony" (1972) a Japanese Tea Ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
inspired piece and "Boxing Ceremony" (1972) in which one performer beats himself until bloodied whilst the other acts as referee. Japanese rituals, English Music Hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
, Viennese Actionism
Viennese Actionism
The term Viennese Actionism describes a short and violent movement in 20th century art that can be regarded as part of the many independent efforts of the 1960s to develop "action art" . Its main participants were Günter Brus, Otto Mühl, Hermann Nitsch and Rudolf Schwarzkogler. As "actionists",...
, and the work of Samuel Becket were amongst their influences.
The Kipper Kids made two projects for television. For HBO they produced Mum's Magic Mulch, and for Cinemax, K.O. Kippers, while the Kids also appeared in a 1982 project for HBO executive produced by von Haselberg, "The Mondo Beyondo Show," a one-off variety show of sorts for performance artists (including a pre-Stomp Yes/No People, La La La Human Steps
La La La Human Steps
La La La Human Steps is a Québécois contemporary dance group in Canada, known for its energetic, acrobatic style that often involves fast-paced and athletic physical contact...
, Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin
William Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
, Paul Zaloom
Paul Zaloom
Paul Finley Zaloom is a U.S. actor and puppeteer best known for his role as the character Beakman on the television show Beakman's World.-Career:...
and others) hosted by Bette Midler's Mondo Beyondo character. Von Haselberg made a number of films at American Film Institute with Routh in the lead role: "Quiet Lives" (1991), "People Are No Damn Good" (1991) and "Your Turn To Roll It #54" (1992). They also appeared as characters in the 1980 film Forbidden Zone
Forbidden Zone
Forbidden Zone is a 1982 musical comedy film based upon the stage performances of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. The film stars Hervé Villechaize, Susan Tyrrell and members of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, and features appearances by Warhol Superstar Viva, Joe Spinell and The...
and the 1989 film UHF
UHF (film)
UHF is a 1989 American comedy film starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva, in whose memory the film is dedicated.The title refers to Ultra High Frequency...
. The Kipper Kids also performed a song in 1991 comedy film The Addams Family
The Addams Family (film)
The Addams Family is a 1991 American black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon of the same name created by cartoonist Charles Addams....
— "Playmates" which can be heard in the film and on its soundtrack. They also starred in the 1990 comedy film The Spirit of '76.
Currently Martin von Haselberg has created a series of large photographic images made into inflatable sculptural shapes titled,' Floatulents', and Brian Routh is working on working on soundworks that incorporate vocal soundbites of world leaders, politicians, madmen, poets, murderers and others as well as an ongoing collaboration with digital media artist Patricia Wells on soundtracks for animations and video works.