Experimental pianist is to become the first artist in residence at Brighton Dome’s earsthetic festival (8-13 December) – an annual celebration of artists who break new ground with their symbiosis of sound and visuals – following a successful funding award from Arts Council England.
The musician, who invented the ‘Inside-Out Piano’; a sculptural feast of an instrument on which she creates her own music, will present two pieces of work as part of the mini-season of interdisciplinary performance which returns to Brighton Dome for the second time this year. Meshing together visual art, new electronic music and experimental soundscapes, this year’s bill also includes a mixture of live shows, DJ sets and installations from analogue heroes Simian Mobile Disco, electroclash and multimedia artistsChicks on Speed, abstract techno-merchants Emptyset and composer and artist Claudia Molitor.
Sarah Nicolls – Inside Out Piano (8-13 Dec) will see the artist inviting members of the public to play her original creation in a fully interactive installation in Brighton Dome foyer. Visitors can discover their own favourite sound, take their photo with this unique instrument and also see Sarah play it herself in a series of short intervention performances. On 10 December Nicolls will then perform Moments of weightlessness: Pendulum Piano; a brand new commission specially created for earsthetic featuring her second Inside-Out Piano which includes has surprising extra characteristics. Calling on parallels between her exploration of new instrument and her own journey into motherhood, this live show promises to be visually, narratively and sonically breath-taking. Expect to see a piano swinging in mid-air, to hear the achingly beautiful melodies and textures of Sarah’s piano-songs and to contemplate the intense moments of life where everything seems to stop still.
earsthetic will also play host to The Works (8 Dec); a regular night at Brighton Dome that provides a chance for theatre makers, dancers, choreographers and musicians to present their cross-artform and interdisciplinary work in development. This special earsthetic edition is particularly focussed on presenting work by musicians and visually led artists. Hosted and facilitated by dramaturg Lou Cope and Sarah Nicolls, a handful of artists will be selected to present short 10-15 minute excerpts of site-specific work in development; offering opportunity for them to seek the opinions of the audience they wish to attract, and an opportunity for people who care about performance to engage in collective dramaturgy and development.
Details & tickets www.brightondome.org