# Modris Tenisons
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{{Short description|Latvian mime artist (1945–2020)}}
thumb|Modris Tenisons
'''Modris Tenisons''' (19 March 1945 – 16 September 2020)[[https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/teatris-un-deja/muziba-devies-rezisors-un-makslinieks-modris-tenisons.a374560/ ''Mūžībā devies režisors un mākslinieks Modris Tenisons''], Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2020-09-16.] was a [mime artist](/source/mime_artist) in [Lithuania](/source/Lithuania) and [Latvia](/source/Latvia). He was especially well known in Lithuania. He was also a multidisciplinary artist: a theater director, stage designer and theater consultant.
== Background ==
Modris lost his father at an early age.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} He started schooling in [Riga](/source/Riga), [Latvia](/source/Latvia) when he was six years old. During his school days, he showed talent in art.[[http://www.gramata21.lv/users/tenisons_modris/ "MODRIS TENISONS: Režisors un scenogrāfs, dizaina mākslinieks, profesionāla pantomīmas teātra izveidotājs Kauņā."] 2003. Retrieved October 6, 2010.]
===Mime career===
After graduating from the School of Applied Arts in [Riga](/source/Riga), he studied and performed [pantomime](/source/pantomime) for four years under Robert Ligera, until he fell in love and emigrated to [Lithuania](/source/Lithuania). In 1966 at [Kaunas](/source/Kaunas), [Lithuania](/source/Lithuania), he founded the first professional pantomime team in the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union). He directed several professional pantomime theater and radio performances, including ''Ecce homo'' (1967), ''Dream Dreams'' (Sapņu sapņi, 1968), ''Do Butterflies'' (Sargājiet tauriņu, 1969), ''20th Century Capriccio'' (XX gadsimta Capricio, 1970), and ''Collage'' (Kolāža, 1971).[[http://www.ycq.ru/article/en/federation/information/the_mime_club.htm "The Lithuanian Mime School. Modris Tenisons."] Retrieved October 6, 2010.][''Ecce Homo'' [documentary by [Vidmantas Baciulis](/source/Vidmantas_Baciulis), 1972]. {{YouTube|WhUPwhZRyVE|Part 1}}. {{YouTube|HUIwGGFsXDo|Part 2}}. Retrieved October 7, 2010.]
Modris was loved and respected by Lithuanians, who considered him as a kind of local '[Charlie Chaplin](/source/Charlie_Chaplin)'. Modris was honoured by the [Lithuanian government](/source/Lithuanian_government) with an [Order of Gediminas](/source/Order_of_Gediminas) for his contributions to the art of mime. He had been retired for years but kept drawing and attracting orders as an artist.[''Modris'' [documentary]. {{YouTube|JndZp1gDfE4|Part 1}}. {{YouTube|cEOAvnRVaPU|Part 2}}. {{YouTube|0rHElE4VJRE|Part 3}}. {{YouTube|hikX6QBIiwE|Part 4}}. Retrieved October 7, 2010.]
===The language of ornamental signs===
Modris also had great interest in [ornamentation](/source/ornament_(architecture)). He was involved in researching the symbolism of the Latvian traditional [Lielvārde Belt](/source/Lielv%C4%81rde_Belt) (''Lielvārdes josta'') with 22 ancient symbols. This Latvian ethnic group was a major part of his creative work.[[http://www.zime.de/zime_aukura/index.php "The Zime Project"]Official site. Accessed October 8, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701235928/http://www.zime.de/zime_aukura/index.php |date=July 1, 2010 }}] which was the central exhibit of the Latvia Pavilion at [Expo 2000](/source/Expo_2000).[[http://www.expo2000.de/dp/kuv/bio/19.html Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527143738/http://www.expo2000.de/dp/kuv/bio/19.html |date=2011-05-27 }}, www.expo2000.de (in German). Accessed October 8, 2010.] Zīmes, from the Latvian word for "sign", are coloured graphic patterns generated by the computer encryption of texts, pictures, or sounds. During the course of Expo 2000, 300,000 visitors to the Latvia Pavilion generated their personal "zīmes", including the (then) President of Latvia, [Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga](/source/Vaira_V%C4%AB%C4%B7e-Freiberga).[National Pavilions [http://98.eu/expo_2000_en.html#Nations "98.EU: Expo 2000"] Accessed August 8, 2010. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720151733/http://98.eu/expo_2000_en.html |date=July 20, 2011 }}]
===Other contributions===
In 2006 he was involved in a creative laboratory: a survey on actors' [psychophysics](/source/psychophysics), nonverbal theater methods and the Latvian sign system. Sixteen actors (Rūta Birzleja, Nadīne Bokovikova, Linde Dambe, Sanita Duka, Ilze Ikše, Jurijs Kondratenko, Dzintars Krūmiņš, Daiga Līcīte, Sandris Majars, [Simona Orinska](/source/Simona_Orinska), Dagne Reinika, Ieva Skopāne, Lena Smelova, Inese Upeniece, Agrita Vidže and Zigmārs Zakis) participated in his laboratory, which lasted for 4 months.[{{YouTube|jeSDdFU-kjo|"Inside - Ecce Homo"}}. Retrieved October 7, 2010.]
===Personal life===
Modris had to leave [Kaunas](/source/Kaunas) and [Moscow](/source/Moscow), where he had dedicated himself to mime, for his native [Riga](/source/Riga) in [Latvia](/source/Latvia). Occasionally, he was engaged in theatrical activities after he got married.[[http://www.gramata21.lv/users/tenisone_ilze "Ilze Tenisone: VJauniešu kamerkora 'Vecrīga' dibinātāja, vadītāja un ilggadēja diriģente."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809214257/http://www.gramata21.lv/users/tenisone_ilze/ |date=2011-08-09 }} Retrieved October 8, 2010.] and had two adult sons, Juveris and Peteris, who worked and studied in [England](/source/England). He lived with his daughter Ilze and assistant, friend and life partner [Simona Orinska](/source/Simona_Orinska).