BEING AND NOTHINGNESS IN KOSTABI'S ATELIER

MARK KOSTABI: „Reflection Follows Me“, 2006, O/C, 60X45 cm
"Being And Nothingness In Kostabi's Atelier" belongs to musical-choreographic productions, which resist being unequivocally categorized. "Being And Nothingness..." is not out-and-out avant-garde neither is it completely classical nor purely pop. The production as a whole was originally inspired by the paintings of the New York and Rome-based artist Mark Kostabi, whose world can be characterized by key-words like urbanization, computerization, surrealism, metropolis, olden art. The authors of music, Peeter Vähi and Siiri Sisask, have maintained the poly-stylistics of the paintings; if anything, the composers have exacerbated the conflicts inherent in Kostabi's work. The music embraces (seemingly) incompatible elements: soloists of symphony orchestra and a rock singer, the sounds of fuzz-guitar and a cathedral organ, a classical cello alongside a drum machine. This music in its turn inspired the choreographer, then the dance production prompted the video-program. However, the overall result is not an eclectic abracadabra, but a syncretistic work of multi-media art realized with a fine sense of style.

Performed by:
Siiri Sisask-vocal
Soloists of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra:
Jüri Leiten - trumpet,
Pärt Tarvas - cello,
Kristjan "Kotkas" Mäeots - percussion)
Peeter Vähi - keyboards
Music by Peeter Vähi and Siiri Sisask, execpt track 10 music words by Siiri Sisask and track 4 (instrumental) music by Peeter Vähi
All Lyrics by Siiri Sisask
All titles published by Ulli A. Ruetzel Publishing,

Commissioned by Tallinn Philharmonic Society