The
GSO is a multi-disciplinary ensemble of musicians, video
artists, programmers, visual artists, poets, dancers and actors. It is the
first ever of its kind in Ireland, and the carrier of original ideas in the field of show arts. The main idea is the mixing of genres and
practices in arts and music making. The medium used to connect and relate these practices
is the sign language of Soundpainting.
Soundpainting is a world arts phenomenon widely spread throughout
Europe and America which has been missing in Ireland until now. Soundpainting,
which was developed by jazz composer Walter Thompson, is a live-composing tool
which uses a universal sign language in a multi-arts context to direct the improvisation
and performance of a group in real-time. This makes each soundpainting
performance unique and particular to its own momentum and also makes
Soundpainting a powerful community arts tool.
It is made up of more than a
1000 registered signs and is now considered a universal language, so that any
soundpainter can without problem conduct a group of performers from any origin.
In this way it stands as a medium for the meeting of cultures between
continents. The classical tradition of conducting already has its own language,
but here the same philosophy doesn't apply. There is an implied interactivity,
a constant shifting of the power centers, and an intentional exchange made
between the soundpainter and the soundpainted.
The GSO is a project-based ensemble, and its crew is different for each
project. Each project has a specific idea behind it and a particular way of
bringing the artists and their specialties together. Some long-term projects
involve large crews of 25 members. Other short-term projects can involve 6
members. The idea is not to compromise but take all the time it needs to
achieve something of interest, working with patient, dedicated and passionate
people ready to explore new ways of doing and creating. We want to facilitate
an atmosphere of openness and curiosity in a space suitable for genuine
research on tools and materials.
Because each project has a specific crew, the material produced is rich and diverse. As opposed to building up a repertoire with a given crew and
a fixed set of instruments, we focus on revealing our multiple potentials so
it is really the meeting of personalities that makes and gives to each project
its singularity.
One
of our biggest challenges is to bring together and harmonize rehearsed and
improvised elements specific to the moment. We want to confront structured
knowledge with authenticity of actions and needs of the present moment. We want
to connect our wells of traditions with the flashing speed of instantaneous
intuition.
The GSO has four projects in the making at the moment. Short-term artistic
projects like XP1: Nuclear power; long-term ones like the CHORUS
project and "At C"; educational projects like Soundpainting
Workshop with Adi. We play theaters.
