Sharjah24: Visitors at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025) paused in astonishment as what appeared to be a motionless metal statue suddenly stirred to life, captivating crowds of all ages. The performer was none other than Frans Vogels, the renowned Brisbane-based mime artist behind the celebrated wind-up toy character, “Mr Snaps”.
A unique blend of illusion and artistry
Making his debut at the region’s largest book fair, Vogels delivered a striking performance that played on stillness, illusion and surprise. “It’s a living statue with a little twist,” he explained. “The character is inspired by wind-up toy photographers from the early 1900s to the 1950s — a figure that creates a fleeting moment and a little flash.”
Dressed in a red jacket, blue waistcoat, black top hat and cravat-style bowtie, Vogels completed the illusion with long sideburns and a vintage 1920s-style flash camera. Using layered rubber latex to mimic the sheen and rigidity of metal, he constructed a costume that allowed him to shift seamlessly between frozen stillness and clockwork-style movement. “With latex, I can create metal, plastic, stone, or whatever the act needs,” he said. “If people think I’m not real, then I’m doing my job.”
A global performer delights SIBF audiences
Originally from the Netherlands, Vogels has spent decades perfecting the discipline of mime and the specialised craft of living statues. Together with his wife, he runs More Than Mime Theatre, which has created more than 40 acts performed across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, spanning statues, installations and fire performances.
His appearance at SIBF sparked reactions ranging from shock to laughter, especially when he “came alive” to pose for photographs. “I love hearing people debate whether I’m real,” he said. “When I move to take a picture with my old-style flash, their surprise is fantastic. I wish I had a real camera to capture their expressions.”
Vogels will perform two daily shows for the remainder of the fair, held at Expo Centre Sharjah until November 16 and organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme Between You and a Book. This year’s edition features more than 1,200 cultural activities, including workshops, author sessions and live performances that animate SIBF’s vibrant cultural programme.
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