Crypt 1 and Crypt 2: the anatomy of architecture 

 

Christ Church Spitalfields 

Commercial St London E1 6LY 

 

Live Sound: Nick Parkin an Z'ev 

Movement: Kirill Burlov and Marie-Gabrielle Rotie and Hollie Miller 

Costume: Yuliya Krylova

 

Our activities are governed and sustained by materials and signals that emanate from beneath the ground; a pulse, an ebb, a flow, a signal, a light, or run of water, will affect us. It is a shadow or replica of the city.’ (Peter Ackroyd, London Under, 2011) 

 

The Crypt is thickly atmospheric and alive with resonant acoustics, and Nick Parkin and Z'ev  improvised sound seeks to resonate with the space and connect with the subterranean archaic history layered below. Yuliya Krylova has created an evocative installation of costumes. Dancers Kirill Burlov (Rambert Dance), Hollie Miller and Marie-Gabrielle Rotie bring together their respective expertise in contemporary, experimental movement to incarnate and transform their physicality’s and the space around them, imaging the body as the architecture of death, decay and rebirth and the crypt as a space of imagination and memory.

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Christ Church, in Spitalfields, East London is an early 18th century Anglican church designed by architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, a controversial freemason known by some in his day as the 'devils architect'. The crypt is thickly atmospheric and alive with resonant acoustics, both of which were essential qualities in the playing and recording of a series of solos and duets by z'ev and Nick Parkin. The instruments resonated with the acoustic properties of the space and at times seeming to connect with the subterranean archaic history layered below.

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“The Ascending Scale” is presented by Soleilmoon Recordings in a hand-made screen-printed cover, in a limited edition of 350 copies. TRACK LISTING: 1. The Smoke 2. The Flame 3 The Ash  www.soleilmoon.com

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The tracks were inspired by both artists having a strong interest in Alchemical processes and Elemental sound, which manifested in the initial recordings in Spitalfields Crypt and in the final compositions relating to Elements of Three Alchemical Phases of the Swiss alchemist Paracelsus.

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Z’EV

 

Conceptual artist, poet and sound sculptor. After studying at CalArts with Concrete poet Emmett Williams he produced visual and sound poetries, and was included in the "Second Generation" show at the Museum of Conceptual Art in San Francisco in 1975.  One of the progenitors of the ‘industrial movement’ in the mid-70’s as a result of his solo percussion work with self made instruments. Was a faculty member of the Theatre School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam from 1986-90. His recorded works have been released by a variety of labels, most notably: Touch, Cold Spring and subROSA.

While generally most known as a solo performer, since 2003 he has been concentrating on cooperative and collaborative composition and performance.

In 1983, critic Roy Sablosky wrote: “Z’EV doesn’t just break the rules, he changes them.” Journalist Louis Morra wrote in 1983: “Z’EV is a consummate example of contemporary performance art, as well as modern composition and theater.” and, “Z’EV realizes many of modernist art’s ultimate goals: primitivism, improvisation, multi-media/conjunction of art forms, the artist as direct creator.”

 

Nick Parkin

 

Nick Parkin is an award-winning Composer, Musician, Artist, Director and Movement Practitioner. He is a specialist in environmental and site based sound and performance. Nick trained in Fine Arts and Community Arts at Bradford Art College 1980 – 83 specializing in procession, masked performance and fire sculpture. He then later gained an MA in Electro-acoustic music composition at University of East Anglia 1998-1999.

In 2001 Nick won first prize in the prestigious Bourges Electro-acoustic music awards for the composition ‘Magmas’, which was broadcast on Radio stations worldwide. In 2002 Magma’s led to a film commission from Sonic Arts Network which was screened at QEH Royal Festival Hall as part of London Sinfonietta’s State of the Nation Festival.

He has over 10 releases on CD, which have evolved from his ongoing interest in elemental sound, environmental and micro sounds and the meeting points of industrial, architectural and natural sound worlds. His Cd’s are released on labels in USA and Italy and some are available on itunes.

Since the 1980’s Nick has received commissioning from numerous high profile dance and theatre companies including over 30 commissions for Marie-Gabrielle Rotie Productions and has worked for Horse and Bamboo, Doo Cot, Athletes of the Heart, Liz Lea, Ko Murobushi, London College of Fashion, Athina Vahla and Candoco, Stefan Marb. TV and Radio Engagements include for BBC Wales, BBC radio and BBC Radio 4 Drama. He has held residencies in Spain, Engadine Alps in Switzerland, Germany, Monaco digital Dance Festival and Arena Theatre and Portland Quarry. www.nickparkin.com

 

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