By Montague Jacobs, Y11
All around the world people are collaborating on a project called the “Third Paradise”, endorsed by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. Pistoletto has had a strong upbringing, surrounded by art. He started working as an art restorer with his father, but his daily dose of art was not enough. He began painting figures and self-portraits on metallic backgrounds, before moving on to making photo-realistic scenes. He was eventually noticed by a gallery owner, and was thus brought into the world of art.
Today, Pistoletto works mainly with art pieces using mirrors or reflections. Recently, he created a global project meant to unite people through art. Pistoletto describes its meaning as “the third phase of humanity, realized as a balanced connection between artifice and nature.” It was for this reason that Pistoletto came to us.
On Thursday the 19th and Friday the 20th of September, Year 11 art classes worked with Pistoletto and his team. To start, they created posters symbolizing something they want to change within themselves or the world around them.
After the posters, students collaborated on the “third paradise art piece,” meant to show a collision between worlds. Everyone’s teamwork made it special, showing how important Pistoletto’s philosophies regarding personal responsibility to achieve a global vision are.
Separately, in the sound room, there was a secluded, special art piece. It’s described as a “kinetic work of sound-art composed of hundreds of bells and rattles donated from each part of the Mediterranean,” but in reality, there isn’t a way to describe the feeling of stepping into the room. Some described it as bizarre or abstract, some didn’t understand its purpose, and others absolutely loved it. Personally, the moment I stepped into that room I felt as though I had left the Centre des Arts. Fans positioned in the room created a strong breeze — cold, yet reminiscent of summer. The lights above gave warm textures to the surroundings, and with the technicians changing the power, it made you feel as though the room was spinning. On top of all of this, there was audio. After stepping out of the room I felt as though I was barely in it.
Later, at 7 p.m, a concert began, starting with a solo by guitarist Ulf England. He played on a slide guitar with a metal bowl which altered the reverberation in a cool and unique way. He began to slow his playing down until it hit a nice melody, and at that point, Barbara Hendrix, an acclaimed opera singer, stepped on to the stage. She started by giving a speech on discrimination in today’s world, and ways to combat it. She gracefully transitioned into song as if the speech and lyrics had no degree of separation. She sang “We Shall Not Be Moved”, which ironically, was quite moving. After the outstanding performance by Barbara Hendrix and Ulf England, there was a duet between pianists Mookie and Jeremy Menuhin. The two musicians were so adored by the crowd they were given an encore. The musicians ended their performance and guest speakers went onto the stage, ending the eventful and spectacular day.
