John Cage's 100th 100
For a whole year, the baBel ensemBle, in collaboration with composer Istvàn Zelenka, put on 100 performances to mark the centenary of John Cage. The hundredth will take place on March 5.
The johncage100 adventure is coming to an end. On March 5, 2013, the baBel ensemBle will stage its hundredth and final performance, entitled Take a simple folding chair.
This final performance will take place in the streets of Lausanne, starting at 4pm. Precise times and locations will be announced at the last minute, based on a calculation of the 99 previous performances. After this year's abundance of events - including concerts, actions, music, painting, literature and video - this ultimate action marks a return to the essence of Cagian thought, as conveyed by Istvàn Zelenka: "Take a simple folding chair and look for a place in town or somewhere in nature where you'd like to spend a good moment, between 30 minutes and 1 hour, for example. Take a seat, and in a relaxed yet intensely attentive posture, observe the place you've chosen with your ears, eyes and mind. Has this experience inspired you? If so, then look for other places, other contexts and repeat it; if not, I wish you a good time nonetheless."
All these performances can be seen on the www.johncage100.ch. A publication by Lausanne-based Art&Fiction is scheduled for 2014.
PhotoIn 2006, Gerhard Richter created six paintings while listening to music by John Cage. In 2012, ensemBle baBel filmed these canvases in the most neutral way possible. (Photo: ensemBle baBel)
