ALLORA & CALZADILLA
MoMA
Dec. 8th - Jan. 10th
Do you remember the Petrified Petrol Pump from Art Basel Miami? It is remarkable that when you discover new Artists, they suddenly seem to pop up everywhere, like I should have known about them before. I definitely got more curious and hurried to MoMA to check what Jennifer Allora (American, 1974) and Guillermo Calzadilla (Cuban, 1971) was up to now. At first look there is a Piano... and then yes, the Piano has a carved whole in it, and wheels and it also has been modified quite a lot.
Every hour a Woman or a Man pops up from the whole to play "The Ninth Symphony of 1824" By Beethoven. And you get a "Grand" walking Piano Concert.
the hole in the piano renders two octaves inoperative—that fundamentally transforms both the player/instrument dynamic and the signature melody, underlining the contradictions and ambiguities of a song that has long been invoked as a symbol of humanist values and national pride
(MoMA)
I do wish that the gifted musicians could have been styled better, but then again I am crazy about the esthetics.
(The performances was done by Terezija Cukrov and Amir Khosrowpour while I was there)
WITH LOVE
Kristin
That is genius, brilliant and just amazing!!
ReplyDeleteWow, cool and crazy at once (it would be interesting to be playing upside down too!)
ReplyDeleteI read about this recently in some magazine... and then I see it pop up on your blog. :-)) It is fascinating how that happens serendipitously.
ReplyDeleteA hole in the middle-- such a simple concept and yet, not thought of before which of course, makes it even more brilliant!
I smiled about your aesthetic comment-- and I agree. I suppose the informal dress is to make the viewer feel more intimate, as if visiting a friend, but the impact of a beautiful gown with trimmings would have been magnificent.
Wow that is so cool!
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy cool!
ReplyDeletexoxox,
CC
that is so funny...i think i need to see that in person! like one of those "you just have to be there" things. maybe i'll youtube it
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea! I'm especially fascinated since I've played the piano & trying to envision the piece without those octaves! Wish I could've been there to see it in person too :) (Btw, thank you for your sweet comments on our new place, hope you enjoyed a great weekend!)
ReplyDeleteThey should have called you to glam up those musicians. HA!
ReplyDeleteThat is super interesting for me as I used to play piano for years...That is truly amazing! Happy Monday,sweetie and how was the Werner Herzog documentary?
ReplyDeletePs: I am hosting a beautiful home decor GIVEAWAY today, just in time for Christmas!
Incredible! I wish I could have been there!
ReplyDeletethere's people out there who think at other levels of creative... have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing piano and such a good idea. :)SarahD
ReplyDeletewow...this looks soooo crazy and sooo cool! must be a sight to witness im sure!
ReplyDeletethis is so cool- I love the whole concept- thanks for the intro- I love visiting you here- Hope the rest of the week is good!
ReplyDeleteHaha! An upside down piano version would surely be interesting. Loving the idea!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes and Kristin. I will take that as a compliment::)
ReplyDeleteThey just got chosen to represent the United States in the 2011 Venice Biennale!
ReplyDeleteWonderfull!!! cannot belive that even with two octaves of the piano not working, the musicians were able to play one of the most difficult pieces in history!!! probably didnt sound so accurate, but if you add they played backwards, makes a remarkable event!!!!
ReplyDelete