Sound of Desires and first, class

Description:

An evening of performances in the Grand Luxe Hall presented with LIVE International Performance Art Biennale.

Sound of Desires (2017) was a public video recording executed as a performance by Maiko Jinushi with percussionist John Brennan. Positioned across from each other on the stage of the Grand Luxe Hall, Jinushi interviewed Brennan about desire and provided prompts for him to respond to live on drums. Taking on the role of director, Junshi documented changes in Brennan’s improvisations throughout the conversation at three angles: a wide shot including Jinushi and Brennan from the point of view of the audience, a medium shot of Brennan from Jinushi’s position, and a close-up of Brennan’s hands and drums. The result was a documentary recording of the process of musical collaboration and emerging desire.

Nile Koetting’s multimedia performance first, class (2016) focused on the relationship between economic systems and leisure time. Dressed in all white, Koetting’s performance unfolded against projected colour gradients, geometric shapes, and galaxy images. Throughout the twenty-seven minute performance, Koetting drew with invisible markers, shredded colourful paper, made popcorn, created a flower arrangement, and engaged with various props including swimming goggles, a banana, an inflatable pool tube, a handheld mirror, and hairspray. The electronic score composed by Koetting involved excerpts from hotel reviews published on Tripadvisor, furthering the work’s exploration of the tourism industry, exoticism, labour, and the commodification of time.

First, class was initially presented at Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin, with dramaturgy by Felipe Amaya Gonzalez. The performance was supported by the Saison Foundation, Japan. 

Curated by Makiko Hara.

Video documentation is available upon request.