robert pettena

zabriskie point reloaded, 19.08.2011 and 20.08.2011
performance with giacomo laser and martino mugnai on drums

curated by emily barsi .
This new exhibition by Robert Pettena is based on a musical research between different art performances. A drummer is trying to keep the beat, completely enclosed in a wooden box. A DJ, precariously positioned directly on the top of the box, plays frantic sounds, trying to follow the beat of the drummer. The vibrations created by the drummer keep interfering with the DJ’s set. The musicians are continuously searching for a dialogue throughout this extreme situation, attempting to find a common point where their two largely contrasting realities meet and connect. The result is a kind of jam session where their musical dialogue meets and clashes, in a cyclical way. Rhythms, sounds and surreal video images draw us into loops of different perceptions and dimensions of space and time: a tribute to “Zabriskie Point”, a late sixty’s masterpieces of the Italian film director Michelangelo Antonioni.

Robert Pettena: born in Penbury (GB), lives and works in Florence.

Giacomo Laser: lives in Florence (IT), he plays with Gioacchino Turú and Vanessa V. in the guise of arranger. He founded the label Stuprobruciorecords. His work ranges from pop to avant-garde. For the project Zabriskie Point Reloaded he plays engraved vinyls and uses digital samplers.

Martino Mugnai: lives in Florence (IT), he plays with the band Velvetscore. He shared the stage with international bands like Mogwai, Blonde Redhead, Mum, karate, Marlene Kuntz, Giardini di Miro, Yuppie Flu. Since 2008 he is the drummer of the project Canemorto.

http://robert-pettena.blogspot.com/