Kum-Kum, a Breton street artist from renowned in France and internationally
There are street performers, and then there’s Kum-Kum. Those who have seen him perform once remember him for a long time. This fire juggler from Brittany has, over the years, become one of France’s most versatile and sought-after street performers — both in France and abroad.
Humour, poetry, acrobatics, magic, fire juggling: Kum-Kum refuses to be pigeonholed. That is precisely what makes him so compelling. Performing solo, he captures the audience’s attention, draws large circles of spectators around him and evokes emotions one would never expect to feel whilst walking down a street.
A street artist who has trained all over the world
It all began over 15 years ago in Brittany. But it was through travelling that Kum-Kum became the artist he is today. India, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Germany — so many artistic stops along the way that have shaped, challenged and inspired him.
For him, these trips are a way of meeting other street performers, training with the world’s best jugglers and circus artists, and bringing rich and varied cultural influences back into his shows. The show *Goa* is the most obvious example of this: it was inspired by his encounters in Goa, India, where artists from all over the world gather every year.
Recognised by his peers and the general public
Kum-Kum is not only recognised by those who see him on the street. He is regarded by street performers as one of France’s finest exponents of the art form. His street performance, *Goa*, has, in fact, won several international awards.
His reputation has extended beyond the world of street performance to reach a wider audience through the media. He took part in La France a un Incroyable Talent, France’s leading talent show. He was also selected for Das Supertalent, the German equivalent, demonstrating his recognition beyond France’s borders.
On stage, he has performed alongside some of the biggest names: at international festivals such as the Vevey Street Artists Festival (Switzerland), the Ozora Festival (Hungary), the Hill Top Festival (India), the Bali Spirit Festival (Indonesia), the Aurillac Festival, the Esperanzah Festival (Belgium), and many others. It has also collaborated with town councils, tourist boards and local authorities throughout Brittany, the Greater West and the whole of France.
Street artist in Brittany and throughout France
Kum-Kum was born in Brittany — a region with a long tradition of popular culture and open-air festivals. It was also here, as a spectator, that he first discovered street performers as a child – a formative experience that marked the beginning of his artistic journey. This close connection to the Breton region has enabled him to forge strong links with numerous local organisers: town councils in Morbihan, coastal festivals, campsites and seaside resorts.
But his creative sphere extends beyond the borders of Brittany. As a professional street artist, he performs throughout France and regularly across Europe and around the world. No distance can stop him — travelling is part of his identity as an artist.