Bit: Giacomo Verde's Virtual Puppet

The paper focuses on Bit, a virtual puppet animated through a cyberglove by the italian artist Giacomo Verde. The aim of the paper is highlight Bit's relation with the innovation and tradition of the puppet theatre. The main hypothesis is that Bit's virtual nature is the core of this relationship. Giacomo Verde reprogrammes the puppet every six months and during the performances the artist declares this process. The continuous programming produces Bit's character like a curious child who ask to the spectator everything. Thus, the changing of the code is translated into a continuous retraining and a way of relation with the spectator. Furthermore Giacomo Verde brings Bit on the urban streets with a mobile structure, renovating the traditional image of this street show.