Mime and Living Statues
Mime (from the Greek word "mimos" meaning "actor") is the art of conveying action, emotion and/or character, solely by using bodily gestures or movements. Dating back to Classical Antiquity, it was also inspired by cultural forms like the Japanese Noh theatre (14th century) and the Italian Commedia dell'arte (16th century). Modern mime, which emerged in Paris during the late 19th century, has been dominated by mime artists such as Jacques Copeau (1879-1949), Etienne Decroux (1898-1991), Jacques Tati (Jacques Tatischeff) (1907-82), and Marcel Marceau (1923-2007).
In contrast, the term "Living statue" is commonly used to describe a street artist who stands completely still - just like a statue or mannequin - typically for hours at a time. The World Championship of Living Statues is held every year at Arnhem in the Netherlands. See also: Gilbert and George, the living sculptures.