Carlos Converso, a life in the art of puppets

Carlos Converso, a renowned puppeteer, actor, playwright, and theater director from Córdoba, Argentina, born in 1947, will receive the 2026 Medal of Fine Arts tomorrow. Having become a Mexican citizen, Converso will also celebrate his 50th year in the country. In an interview, he stated, “Practically my entire career has been carried out here. It is where I developed as a stage artist and puppeteer. My entire profile, my personal mark in what I do and produce is tied to my time in Mexico, with the public, both children and adults. It has been fundamental; just like many others, Mexico welcomed me very generously.” Converso, who has worked in puppet theater since the 1970s, noted that contrary to common belief, the rise of technology and artificial intelligence has led to an increase in audience consumption of puppet theater. He explained, “Today’s puppet theater is not, let's call it, purely traditional, but rather always combined with other artistic languages. We see actors, actors with masks, dancers, and even complex mixed spectacles on stage.” With more than five decades of experience and having earned a score of awards, Converso continues to emphasize the importance of focusing on the live theatrical expression unique to puppetry rather than competing with audiovisual media. He pointed out that there has been a noticeable growth in family-oriented performances and adult audiences: “In this sense, I believe there has been greater awareness, as consumption increases, of the characteristics of such performances to appreciate them as they are. A significant area is adult puppet theater, which I have specialized in; it has grown considerably.” Despite this, he acknowledged that puppet theater is still often considered a minor art form, not held in the same esteem as traditional acting theater. Converso and fellow puppeteers have consistently advocated for elevating the status of puppet theater, giving it the authority to address all themes as other artistic expressions do. However, he expressed confidence in the Mexican public's reception of puppet theater: “The audience has not decreased, but its presence has increased. Perhaps not to the extent desired. One always thinks one wants more, but it has indeed risen. If we look at the lineup of shows at theaters in the Bosque, for instance, in terms of children’s or young adult and adult performances, there is always a percentage, at least 30 or 40%, of shows featuring puppets.” Recognized with a number of accolades, including the Rosete Aranda Award for Best Puppet Show in 1984, Converso emphasized the challenge of avoiding the trap of competing with audiovisual media while staying true to the possibilities of live puppet theater as a dynamic stage performance. The ceremony for the Medal of Fine Arts in the Theater category will take place in the Manuel M. Ponce Hall of the Palace of Fine Arts at noon.