Matt’s Gallery and Dilston Grove present the second in a new series of co-productions Cantata Profana by Matt Stokes.
The exhibition runs parallel with a new commission of work at Matt’s Gallery, Madman in a Lifeboat (1 April–24 May 2015). The presentation of both works across east and south London this spring marks the culmination of Stokes’ year-long Bartlett fellowship*.
Cantata Profana is a six screen video and sound installation focusing on the physicality of extreme metal vocalists and the ability of their voices to immerse a listener and transcend both the individual performer and group.
Cantata Profana takes the form of an amphitheatre of video projections pre- senting a new musical composition, created in partnership with British com- poser Orlando Gough, artist and musician Tim Kerr and six grindcore vocalists. Cantata Profana interweaves extreme metal music culture with clas- sical choral traditions, to create an unexpected union. The intense sounds and body movements of the vocalists, together with the backdrop of the out- dated German Democratic Republic radio studio in which the piece was filmed, all contribute to the atmosphere of this unique and enveloping work.
Stokes’ practice has developed from a long-standing enquiry into events and beliefs that shape people’s lives and identities. Music – its history, sub- cultures and socio-political effects often provides the catalyst for researching and forming collaborative relationships with musicians, writers, actors, com- posers and communities, bringing together their interests, knowledge and skills in potentially conflicting situations. By exploring the resulting ex- changes of ideas, the final outcomes challenge our assumptions and under- standing about specific scenes or chosen ways of living.
The vocalists featured in Cantata Profana include: Anders Bakke (She Said Destroy, Norway), Chris Butterworth (Kastrated, UK), Dente (Rompeprop, Netherlands), Alex Hughes (Hatred Surge, USA), Alex Jockel (Krupskaya, UK), Der Kurt (Paroxysm, Germany).
