According to the great artist Marcel Duchamp, art and life are processes of random chance and willful choice. – I couldn’t agree more!
About the Dede Puppets
The Dede puppets are a bunch of No Bodies. They were conceived as puppet heads only, collated from snippets of the real world. It didn’t take them long to develop a life of their own. And when my friend Rae donated 12 identical black robes (which they have to share) they became some body.
Their characters are based on my general observations. I love people, I don’t want to change anyone, but I want to instigate reflection… I observe, and what I see is weaved into the Dede relationships. We evolve together, and they constantly surprise me. I am curious what will happen next. Watch their milestones… I am sure there is more to come!
About Me
I am a German born artist living in New Zealand. Though I am a very private person, the puppets somehow managed to teased me out into the public. For me, they are the ultimate vehicle to make social comments. My name is not Dede as some readers have assumed, but Dietlind Wagner. The name Dede for the puppets is derived from DADA, an art movement (or better anti-art movement, as they wished to be seen back then) I am in awe of. As the word DADA was taken, the next vowel is e, therefore Dede.
I do other art apart from the Dedes and you can read more about me on the Dedelive.com webpage or follow the Instagram beyond_the_dedes.
From Dada to Dede
I don’t want to launch into a comprehensive scholarly piece about the connection between DADA and my Dede puppets. As I am German, of course I have been influenced by DADA. My Dedes are one of the many branches that have sprung from the movement that was alive between the two World Wars. It all started a hundred years ago – in 1916, . From the very first time I heard DADA mentioned (I must have been around eight) I was intrigued and it stayed with me ever since. Without sounding too pompous: the Dedes are the “heir apparent” in a matchbox. They are visual collages, they tell stories, they perform and most importantly, they might appear nonsensical. Just like original Dada art, though a bit more whimsical. They have a social mandate, but they are a tad too apolitical to ascend the throne. They love to twist meaning, and they are meant to twist.
The Dedes and You
For me personally the Dedes are loaded with significance. They are my “Voodoo dolls gone mellow.” But at the end of the day, art is what the viewer makes of it. Most importantly it should be accessible. If you find something deep and meaningful in it for yourself, I am happy. If you feel unmasked, no need to tell me! Any other comments you want to make are most welcome!
dedepuppets 
i love your puppets
so creative, a little scary really cool my kids would love them!
Thanks. I really enjoy them for their own personalities :).
Thank you very much for the Sunshine Award. I love your puppets too! I will definitely link to your page, though it may take me a while to find the ten bloggers!
It’s not that easy, isn’t it. Particularly when you have a few awards and try to give them to different people. But thanks!!!
Dede, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award, hope that’s ok. The nomination is here http://butimbeautiful.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/and-on-the-red-carpet-tonight-we-have/. I’ve passed it on to five people including you, but I believe there are official rules, this website lists them, http://websitesgiveback.com/blog/http:/websitesgiveback.com/blog/the-sunshine-award/. I haven’t forgotten about the award you kindly gave me – and will put it up soon.
Thanks for the award. I’ve checked your post and I should probably clarify one little thing about the puppets… I don’t sell them. I am selling a book about the puppets though :). With character descriptions and photographs of the puppets.
Turns out the award I gave you is the same as the one you gave me. Funny!!! As I understand it, giving an award to somebody is just that little bit extra than a simple “Like”, so thank you!
I think we both have done our bit, what do you think? :)
Just wanted to say that I love your puppets – nightmarishly quirky = awesome.
Thank you so much. I don’t know what else I could say :). I have read your other comment on the truth as well and will check out your blog.
Oh you run a studio / agency too! Sorry skipped that part on first reading. How’s that going?
Yes, that is why I liked your post. After a life changing experience I’ve made the decision keep the company small and work mainly with clients with a social conscience. I guess everyone makes these decisions consciously or sub-consiously. I prefer consciously… to reduce stress :)
Hong Kong must be stessful and hectic?
As stressful and hectic as any other big city I suppose. It’s easy to get sucked into the hustle and bustle, but then again that’s all part of the fun sometimes. :) Believe it or not though, 3/4 of HK is country parks – so if things get bad in the city there’s always the option of living like a hermit in the forest.
I’ve never been to Hong Kong, but year’s back I worked on a translation of a Travel guide for Hong Kong and it sounded as if the outer islands are quite amazing.
…I know how easy it is to get sucked in, if you don’t watch :)
We did a hike the other weekend – one minute I’m stuck in city traffic, the next (ok about 20 minutes later) I’m trudging up a trail in the middle of the jungle. The trail’s called the Twin Peaks and it’s got a thousand steps along the way! Almost died. Yes, definitely visit HK if you fancy some culture shock!
I had to dig out my travel guide to remember which island it was that intrigued me the most, when translating. It was Lantau… It sound like a great place.
…cool stuff, i like it…
…a new point of view for “the art speaks to us”…
…great…
vegan l♥ve&peace, miss viwi
(sorry, english is not my first language)
Vielen Dank :)
I Love your blog. I have only recently started to look at German blogs.
…thank you…Danke…
…I’am glad, that you like my blog so much…
…I’am very interested in artistic things and so I will visit “you” more often…
have a nice day, vegan l♥ve&peace, miss viwi
Very nice heads of puppets. Is there somebody who plays with the dede puppets?
Thanks.
At the moment they are still finding their place in the world.They have the odd performance in workshops but for now they are mainly sharing their thoughts on this blog and in a published book.
Interesting name you have. I love Cormorants.. there is a very special spot here in New Zealand where you can observe them wonderfully. You might like the pic at the bottom of this post https://dedepuppets.com/2012/08/07/tada-the-dedes-are-back/
Deine Puppets machen gute Laune! Ich freue mich daß Du mir folgst!
Vielen Dank. Mir gefällt, was du machst sehr.
I absolutely love these characters, nice work.
Thank you so much.
I really liked the colourful geometric head you did.
Thanks for dropping by my blog! Fabulous idea you have! I look forward to seeing more DeDe puppets.
Thanks and welcome to the Dede World :)
How true! Making sense of your own imagery. It is with a sense of wonder that I look at images I’ve created and ask “What do they mean??? Did I really want to say that?” It’s a problem. Thankyou for making that point. Tony
I work a lot from the subconscious or what I call “my autopilot”. I often can’t see what’s happening when I am in the thick of things. So my imagery is very helpful when times are quieter and I can process what happened.
“This is a copy paste message”
Hi there my name is Almeida Garcez, and I´m a freelance illustrator and writer.
I love to listen, and interpretate the power of words.
My work is mainly focus on social issues, philosophy, and existentialism.
Right now I´m into a very personal project, that I think it´s the answer for all forms of life – collaboration.
I illustrate people´s phrases, songs and wandering thoughts, I´ve called it Abandoned Illustrations.
The reason that I´m “reaching” you, it´s because you followed me a couple of weeks ago.
I hope it wasn´t a mechanical reaction that bursted out of you.
I hope the first reaction I caused in you, was good, and my work truly made you reflect.
We both know it´s easy to follow someone, since we already do that in our role in society,
and in all sorts of ideologies.
Please unfollow me if you only intended to sell your marketing.
If you didn´t returned to my blog after you followed me, please go to:
http://almeidagarcez.wordpress.com/about-the-guilty-preacher-spirits-link/
http://almeidagarcez.wordpress.com/about/
There you can take a look at the topography of my reflections, and overall geography of my brain.
If you come to a conclusion that after all you don´t like my interpretations and analogies, please unfollow my blog.
Kindest Regards
Almeida Garcez
Dear Almeida, I followed your blog because I am interested how fellow artists deal with issues of life. I do like a lot of your work, though not everything. This is life! My own personal project, the Dede puppets, need a lot of getting used to but ultimate they are dealing with the same issues as your illustrations.
Greetings from a fellow artist with a wicked mind.
Hi Deitlind…
*Stands with his head down in embarrassment and guilt*
Apologies… Apologies… Apologies… I am so sorry I did not catch up with the dedes lately (Well for a very long time)… But I will catch up from now on… Surely…
How are they doing anyways?
And how have you been?
The Dedes have been missing you Arindam. Hope all is well at your end of the world and life is progressing satisfactorily.
The Dedes have been very slack themselves for a while. But now, since Devil has lost his job, they have a new cause to fight for.
Good to have you back!
Dietlind
Ha! Really cool idea. They look like they’ve got a life of their own….
Yes, they do :)
Hi Dietlind – thanks for visiting my blog and nice to find you and your work. Brilliant stuff and much needed for the times – more papier mache for everyone