Christoph Brech
Opus 110 a
Christoph Brech, a highly regarded German artist in his homeland, he presents an impressive video-graphic work at the Darling Foundry. His remarkable meditative piece accompanied with its interpretation by Dmitri Shostakovich and the Symphony for the Orchestra of Chamber Opus 110 a, is a magnificent creation, one that the Quartier Éphémère takes great pride in presenting at the Foundry.
The inspiration for this piece came to Brech while he was assisting an orchestral concert in Munich. The corporeal language of the orchestra’s conductor Christopher Poppen fascinated him, especially the movements of his apparel while he directed the musicians. His energetic movements became musical and hypnotic. Through the use of a close up on the conductor’s body the video image is concentrated on his movements, captivating the spectator’s complete attention. The video is an animated monochrome. The stationary camera position places the emphasis on the elbows of the musician and the space between his shoulder blades (these parts of the body allow for the most revealing insight to the act of conducting an orchestra). The rhythm changes exert an effect on the spectator as if they have found themselves trapped by a myriad of expressions in monochrome black tissue. It is a rarity for a monochrome to be treated with the same eloquence and conceptuality. The music itself becomes visualized; the movements become its own voice.
Following a visit by the composer to the city of Dresden, which had been devastated by the war, Symphony for the Chamber Opus 110 a has been dedicated to victims of fascism. The piece encompasses a wide array of emotions, from a nostalgic cadence to a pathetic elegy of lamentations. Brech uses these sentiments and transposes them to a visual medium. This work is itself homage to a great composer.
Christoph Brech works and lives in Munich (Germany). His works have been shown in important structures, notably the Haus de Kunst in Munich. The Council of Arts and Letters of Québec have invited him to Québec for a yearlong residency in the context of the Bavière in Québec.