We partnered with MOCAK and the National Centre for Culture to once again use Konrad Smoleński's acclaimed sound installation EVERYTHING WAS FOREVER UNTIL IT WAS NO MORE represented Poland at the Venice Biennial in 2013. We are going to do it in a sustainable manner, guided by the idea of artistic ecology and the restoration of important existing works. Smoleński’s piece consists of two bronze bells, the ringing of which is recorded and processed electronically and then played back through walls of loudspeakers. An important element of the installation is the vibrating floor, which also provides a stage for concerts that interact with the installation. Breaking down stereotypes and expectations, the artist creates a sphere of experience for the invited musicians and audiences. The boundaries between the music stage and the art space are blurred.
Konrad Smoleński – EVERYTHING WAS FOREVER UNTIL IT WAS NO MORE (2013-2025)
Daniel Muzyczuk, Agnieszka Pindera – curators
InstaImprovisations is the main concert programme of this year's edition of the festival. Each day we bring together a duo of artists who have not worked together before and invite them to improvise inside and together with Konrad Smoleński's sound installation EVERYTHING WAS FOREVER UNTIL IT WAS NO MORE. The assigned task will be tackled by Polish saxophonist Marek Pospieszalski, French reel-to-reel artist Jérôme Noetinger, American drummer Marshall Trammell, British turntablist Mariam Rezaei, British saxophonist Colin Webster, Danish cellist Jakob Kullberg, British saxophonist Cath Roberts, French guitarist Guilhem Lacroux, Norwegian singer and composer Maja Ratkje and French hurdy-gurdy player Yann Gourdon. All of them use delays, reverberation and sound processing, which are key elements in Smoleński’s installation, on a daily basis.
Concert programme:
7 November, 6 p.m.: InstaImprovisation I: Cath Robert (sax), Mariam Rezaei (turntables)
8 November, 6 p.m.: InstaImprovisation II: Colin Webster (sax), Marshall Trammell (drums)
9 November, 6 p.m.: InstaImprovisation III: Marek Pospieszalski (sax), Guilhem Lacroux (electric guitar)
10 November, 6 p.m.: InstaImprovisation IV: Jérôme Noetinger (Revox), Jakob Kullberg (cello)
11 November, 6 p.m.: InstaImprovisation V: Maja Ratkje (voice), Yann Gourdon (hurdy gurdy)
Krzysztof Pietraszewski - concert series curator
Venue: MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art
The installation is co-organised by the MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Centre for Culture Poland and the Eufonie International Festival of Central and Eastern European Music.
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Accessibility:
Both the installation and the concerts will be very loud, with very high sound pressure. Hearing protection recommended. The venue is adapted to the needs of people with mobility difficulties. The building does not offer induction loops or FM systems. Assistance for visually impaired individuals* is also available. You can enter the building with a support dog and a guide dog.
