Sewing Machine Orchestra (2011)*, an entire orchestra made up of 8 Singer sewing machines from the 1940's. A performance where the leading role is assigned to the amplified orchestration of the acoustic melodies of Singer sewing machines. This melodic noise which captures the imagination and tickles the auditory system, immerses us with its evocative powers into memories of old industrial marvels. The press often coos them as “The eight little singers”, those charming ladies patiently “humming a hymn to the tangential possibilities of everyday objects“. Martin Messier doesn’t sew in front of his audience; he resuscitates old Singers put asleep years ago in order to release, in some magical ways, the luminous and sonorous presence of the past. The sound of his orchestra carries his audience to a dreamlike universe and after years of silence gives voice to the surviving hum of the industrial era.
audio, performance, programming: Martin Messier
electronic: Samuel St-Aubin
production: 14 lieux, perte de signal
This creation was made possible with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
This presentation is made possible with the help of Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
organizers: Culture Development Association “URK” + Mochvara Club & KONTEJNER | bureau of contemporary art praxis
curators of Mochvara Gallery: KONTEJNER | EnaHodžić, Ivana Jelača & Tereza Teklić
technical team: Andrija Santro & Hrvoje Horvat
media partners: H-alter, Kulturpunkt, Radio Student
supported by: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, City of Zagreb - Municipal Office for Education, Culture and Sport
