Liorah
Tchiprout

The French film Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) has profoundly influenced Tchiprout’s recent works, particularly influencing her choice of colour and costume design. The film’s evocative use of a red dress worn by the protagonist made its way into some of her paintings, imbuing her puppet figures with a sense of drama and allure. Tchiprout also draws from her personal life when creating her puppet characters, styling them in ways that reflect her own tastes—such as the incorporation of neckerchiefs, which have become part of both her and her puppets’ aesthetic. This connection between her art and daily life deepens the emotional resonance of her work, allowing her characters to reflect not only stories from literature but her own identity as well.

Tchiprout’s work has drawn comparisons to renowned artist Paula Rego, particularly in their shared use of puppets and storytelling. While she acknowledges Rego as an influence, Tchiprout views her work as contributing to a broader conversation about women’s experiences in art. Rather than focusing on themes of violence or suffering, as seen in Rego’s and Marcelle Hanselaar’s work, Tchiprout creates a world that feels safe and removed from those harsh realities. She describes her artistic process as a way to build a personal sanctuary, channeling her emotions and frustrations into her paintings and prints to create a sense of comfort, both for herself and her viewers.

Tchiprout’s use of puppets as models is central to her creative process. This unique approach began during her time studying Fine Art Printmaking at Brighton University, where she first explored puppet-making in a module outside her primary course. She recalls her early fascination with dolls and puppets, which was further cemented during her visits to the now-closed Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, London. Tchiprout crafts her puppet characters by drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including Yiddish literature and popular culture, and uses them as stand-ins for human subjects in her works. The physical presence of these handmade dolls allows her to create an imaginative world, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.