On the Kunsthalle for Music

Musik-Akademie Basel, Hauptgebäude, Z. 6.301 (Vortragssaal)

A short introduction to the Kunsthalle for Music, its history, how it came into being and perhaps, more importantly, why it came into being. The Kunsthalle for Music’s position in relation to contemporary music and visual art is analyzed and various works included in the inaugural exhibition are discussed.

Ari Benjamin Meyers (b. 1972, USA) lives and works in Berlin. Meyers received his training as a pianist, composer, and conductor at The Juilliard School, Yale University, and Peabody Institute. Trading the concert format for that of the exhibition, his works as an artist such as Kunsthalle for Music (2018), Symphony 80 (with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra) and Solo for Ayumi (both 2017), explore structures and processes that redefine the performative, social, and ephemeral nature of music as well as the relationship between performer and audience. His diverse practice features musical performances for the stage and exhibition spaces as well as three operas including a commission for the Semperoper Dresden and a ballet for the Paris Opera. He has collaborated with artists such as Tino Sehgal, Anri Sala, and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and bands such as The Residents, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Chicks on Speed.

Upcoming exhibitions include solo shows at Kunstverein Kassel and OGR Turin.
Recent works were shown at Liverpool Biennial (2018); Nowy Teatr, Warsaw (2018); Public Art Munich (2018); Witte de With, Rotterdam (2018); Biennale de Lyon (2017); Spring Workshop, Hong Kong (2017); Esther Schipper, Berlin (2017); Lenbachhaus, Munich (2017); Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2016); Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw (2016); KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2015).
The book Music on Display (2016), published by Walther König, chronicles his work and practice.

Link zum Aushang

Im Rahmen von ZeitRäume Basel Biennale für neue Musik und Architektur 13.–22.09.2019 www.zeitraeumebasel.com