TR

Zorka Wollny, JEMP 2014

Previously held in London, the critically acclaimed Jazz and Experimental Music from Poland (JEMP) festival heads to Istanbul for its first ever edition abroad this October as part of the 2014 cultural programme celebrating 600 years of Polish-Turkish diplomatic relations. Taking place at various venues across the city, including Mixer, the festival will showcase an eclectic mix of free jazz, electroacoustic improvisation, deconstructed classical ottoman music and other experimental styles. In addition to concerts, there will be residencies, installations and sound art projects, all involving cross-border partnerships. In an exciting departure from the first three editions of JEMP, this year’s programme consists mostly of specially commissioned collaborations between Polish and Turkish musicians or artists.

In collaboration with Mixer, award-winning visual artist Zorka Wollny’s site-specifc performance ‘Songs of Resistance’ exclusively for this festival will discover the theme of fury and anger through her unique combination of live performance and visual art. Members of two Istanbul’s Bogazici University Choirs – jazz Choir (directed by Aysegul Begum Kuntman) and Rock Choir (directed by Sena Senceylan) will collaborate to Zorka Wolliny’s live performance. The work will explore the revolutionary potential of the voice in the public space, using slogans and exclamations, ultimately merging into a composition in the form of abstract noise.

Much of Polish-born Wollny’s work functions at the boundary between the theatre and visual arts, often relating to architecture. She collaborates – taking a director-like role – with musicians, actors and dancers and with members of local communities, and her projects have also been presented in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Performance is held on October, 24th Friday at 19:00, free of admission. 

www.zorkawollny.net