The "PSS PSSS PSSS" performance

Barcelona, 12th of July. The first edition of the Integrate&Fire collaborative show was held in the visual arts production centre “Hangar”, in Barcelona. Integrate&Fire is a collective of artists, scientific researchers, engineers and cultural producers whose goal is to organize events and propose new models of interactive experiences integrating art, science and technology.
“Our goal is to use multimedia means as a socializing practice, and build up new models for the interactive paradigm”, says Antonio Catalano, one of the organizers of the event. “We wanted to let the participants use the video cameras in real time, express themselves through music and control the lights and the audio of the whole show an the alternative method for intercultural dialogue.”
The event was centered on the “PSS PSSS PSSS” music improvisation performance guided by Marino Josè Malagnino, an eclectic Italian musician, who introduced an innovative way of composing music in real time by whispering into the musicians’ ears. (A video of the performance is available here: http://www.vimeo.com/6580523). The Integrate&Fire live concert is part of Malagnino’s musical trip around the world.
“For me it was a small gathering filled with nothing but good vibes” said Cosmin Pojoranu, 24, student, one of the participants of the event. “Useful and entertaining in the same time, I wish these passionate people good luck in their quest of bridging the gap between art and technology”.
Integrate&Fire was structured in three parts, starting with an ice-breaking sessions in which the 25 participants from Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, Holland, Italy, Ireland, Romania, Spain and Mexico started to know a bit about each other. The second part included the lighting, video and improvisation workshops, in which the participants learned and practiced the skills they used in the third part of the event: the live concert. The real-time orchestra was built on the spot and combined instruments such as drums, saxophone, flute, keyboards, acoustic guitars, cajon and even beatboxing.
Also part of the program was a discussion with Dídac P. Lagarriga who presented the Barcelona based association Oozebap, an organisation whose goal is to promote and deeply study the African and Islamic contemporary societies. Lagarriga shared his cooking for small groups of people project and cooked while the workshops were held. He talked informally about Asian food and the cultural practice of eating and the event ended with all the participants having dinner together.

by Ina Ghita