The strange urban metropolis that is the Barbican Art Gallery is currently home to the first UK solo exhibition by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, a French artist who specialises in creating multi-sensory experiences for his audience.
As you enter ”The Curve” through a curtain of metal chains, your senses are immediately bombarded as you plunge into a gloomy, sandy boardwalk, complete with strobe lights and a buzzing drone. As you turn the corner, a very surreal scene unfolds – a light, airy space with a flock of Zebra Finches flying around, landing on guitars, basses and cymbals- causing giant, thunderous strums that resonate through various amps and microphones. Zebra Finches are naturally very tame birds and go about their usual business without batting an eyelid at the humans peering at them.
Blades of grass are woven in with the guitar strings, while upturned cymbals are filled with water to encourage the birds to ‘use’ the instruments. The bird’s parrot-like faces make them comical and animated little performers, but you can’t help but feel a bit sorry for their artificial existence as there is no natural light in the space, and obviously no weather, dawn or dusk.
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s intention is to create a random source of activity and sonic happening which he has no control over. He is a trained musician and composer who creates works which draw on the rhythms of daily life to produce sound in unexpected ways. The guitars utilised in the installation are the iconic Gibson Les Paul, which have been used by the likes of Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards and Slash.
The random and solitary notes activated by the birds draws our attention to the clean and clear notes that these instruments are famous for.
Boursier-Mougenot’s work harks back to the experimental sound art of John Cage and La Monte Young, as well as the artists of the Fluxus movement. The experimental ways in which he exploits the guitar can also be compared to noise bands such as Sonic Youth.
The Curve exhibition is definitely worth a visit. It is a unique, if not rather sad experience.
Photo Credit: Lyndon Douglas
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot
The Curve, Barbican Art Gallery 27 February- 23 May 2010
Tags: Barbican, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, experimental, France, Gisbson, Glenn Branca, installation, Jimmy Page, John Cage, Keith Richards, La Monte Young, Les Paul, London, Lyndon Douglas, Noise, Paris, Paul McCartney, Slash, Sonic Youth, sound art, The Curve, Zebra Finches
