VISUAL PIANO
We all see and hear the same things, but perceive them completely differently. Based on this individuality of human sensory perception, the artist Laurenz Theinert creates experiential spaces with his “visual piano” that are free of messages, thought patterns and concepts and are therefore open to subjective and collective experience. In Graz Cathedral, visitors encounter moving light sculptures that expand the dimensions of the space and create a feeling of boundlessness. The organ pieces played live by cathedral organist Christian Iwan (24.10.)*, cathedral conductor Melissa Dermastia (25.10.)* and Austrian composer and musician Wolfgang Mitterer (26.10.)* allow for a free interpretation of the melodies and rhythms, analogous to the visuals:
As if in dreams, cathedral organist Christian Iwan interweaves musical elements in his improvisations that were created in different times and could therefore never meet in reality. The starting point is the timbre of the new Graz Cathedral organ, the tonal language is inspired above all by the “sound mysticism” of French music from the 20th century, the thematic material will be taken from well-known works by Anton Bruckner, the regent of the year.
Cathedral organist Melissa Dermastia will be playing the cathedral organ on October 25. This evening’s program will feature tone-painting works by the two French composers Louis Vierne and Jehan Alain. In “Claire de lune” – i.e. by moonlight – you can embark on a journey into the dreamy world of late Romantic French music. Here, the melody nestles obliviously in the architecture of Graz Cathedral before the listener is abruptly brought back into the glistening light of the sun with the “Hymne au soleil”, a hymn of praise to the sun.
In 2023, Wolfgang Mitterer developed a project for organ and surround electronics entitled “requiem for a beautiful dream” for the “Biennale Musica” in Venice. This piece is the starting point for the improvisations in Graz Cathedral on 26.10. Six loudspeakers will be distributed throughout the church space, starting from the organ and its many colors, the sounds will circle through the room like invisible light.
Together with the musical improvisation of the organists, Theinert’s improvisation on the “visual piano” enables an immediate art form of light and sound that exists in all its immateriality only for the moment. Laurenz Theinert himself calls it “dreaming with open eyes and ears”.
In addition to the existing light and sound installation, there will be three live concerts on each of the three festival evenings – tickets are available at www.ticketzentrum.at.
Graz Cathedral
Biography:
Photographer and light artist Laurenz Theinert (*1963) concentrates his work on visual experiences that do not refer to anything pictorially. Rather, he strives for an abstract, reduced aesthetic, which – through the desire for further dematerialization – ultimately led him from photography to the medium of light.
He is a live light and media artist. His “visual piano” performances are shown all over the world. From Sao Paulo, London, Sydney and Berlin to New York and Singapore. He creates media light spaces with 360° panoramic projections. This creates abstract, live environments.
This installation was realized with the kind support of Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark.