250th anniversary of Beethoven
NEURO-KNITTING Beethoven
Date
2020.11.27. Fri 19:00-20:00 (KST) / 11:00-12:00 (GMT+)
Venue
Art Center Nabi Youtube
Tazak Madang (20th Street, Jung-gu Dongho Road/ 57, Dongho-ro 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul)
Participants
Varvara & Mar (Artist Duo)
Jonghwa Park (Pianist, College of Music Seoul National University Professor)
If Beethoven were alive in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, what inspirations would he give us? On November 27 (Fri) at 7 PM, Art Center Nabi and Goethe-Institut Korea present <NEURO-KNITTING Beethoven>, a telematic performance connecting music with technology and art, in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary.
Varvara & Mar selected listeners’ brainwaves as a medium to visualize musical inspirations in <NEURO-KNITTING Beethoven>. Brainwave data from listeners of Beethoven’s ‘Piano Sonata No. 8 – Pathétique’ and ‘Bagatelle No. 25 – Für Elise’ as played in Korea by pianist Jonghwa Park are sent to Varvara & Mar in Europe in real-time. Then, this data is woven into fabric by a knitting machine. and Mar in Europe in real-time. Then, this data is woven into fabric by a knitting machine. Bright and dark colors of the fabric show how different parts of the brain have been stimulated, thereby visualizing the empathetic and cognitive reactions of the listener to Beethoven’s music.
Specifically, Beethoven’s ‘Piano Sonata No. 8 – Pathétique’ is known in Korea as ‘비창(悲愴)’, or’ grave sadness’; however, from the original French, it can be translated as ‘tragic yet brave and moving,’ or ‘비장(悲壯)한.’ If Beethoven were alive during today’s pandemic, would he not send us a message of consolation with a ‘gravely sad but bold and courageous’ music? Such interesting performance is held and brainwaves recorded in Korea, when in Europe, the knitting machine weaves fabric. This entire procedure is live streamed all over the world via YouTube. It is difficult to physically cross borders in the age of a pandemic; however, it is anticipated that Beethoven’s music will be heard and experienced in a new way through a telematic event that connects the world with an advanced technology.
Time(KST) | Program | |
19:00-19:05 | Breakout Session | |
19:05-19:30 | <NEURO-KNITTING Beethoven> Performance | Artist: Varvara & Mar Pianist: Jonghwa Park Listener: Buddhist Oh Shim head of cultural department, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhist <Sonata Pathétique>(20 min) <Für Elise>(3min) |
19:30-20:00 | Artist Talk | · Moderator: Melanie Bono (Head of the culture department East Asia at the Goethe-Institut) · Varvara & Mar (Artist Duo) · Jonghwa Park (Pianist, College of Music Seoul National University Professor) |
*The Performance will be streamed simultaneously through Art Center Nabi's YouTube channel.
[Online RSVP]
If you would like to participate in this event online, please apply for RSVP through the link below.
https://forms.gle/Ti4kUn9uEjNTc3kx8
[Online Streaming Link]
Art Center Nabi Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/nabiart
Varvara & Mar (Europe)
Varvara & Mar is an artist duo formed by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet in 2009. Often duo’s work is inspired by the digital age. In their practice they confront social changes and impact of technological era. In addition to that, Varvara & Mar are fascinated by kinetics, participation, and digital fabrication, which are integral parts of their work. Artist duo has exhibited their art pieces in a number of international shows and festivals. Varvara & Mar has exhibited at MAD in New York, FACT in Liverpool, Santa Monica in Barcelona, Barbican and V&A Museum in London, Onassis Cultural Centre in Athens, Ars Electronica museum in Linz, ZKM in Karlsruhe, etc.
Jonghwa Park(Korea)
Jonghwa Park is a concert pianist and a professor. Born in Korea, he established his international credentials at an early age. There followed a stx-ring of engagements across Europe, the United States and Asia where he performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras. He received musical guidance from Karl Ulrich Schnabel, Leon Fleisher and Martha Argerich. Since becoming a faculty member at Seoul National University in 2007, he has designed and organized innovative lectures and international festivals.
[NEURO-KNITTING Beethoven Performance]
Hosts Art Center Nabi, Goethe-Institut Korea
Director Soh Yeong Roh
Chief Curator HyeIn Jeon
Program Curator Jin Lee
Program Coordinators Hyun Jeoung Moon
Supporter HeeEun Kim, Haerin Do, Yoojin Chung, Yunji Choi
Graphic Design Monthly Poster
Video Editing, Transmission HoMan Kwon, Junho Choi
Inquiry info@nabi.or.kr