You Talking to Me
You Talking to Me is a 30 minute performance and part of an ongoing project, ´Extended Composition’, by Norwegian composer Henrik Hellstenius to examine social relationships via a combination of music, movement and text.
Written and performed in collaboration with violinist Victoria Johnson and video artist Peter Knudsen, the piece features Hellstenius himself performing one of his own compositions for the first time. It explores the relationship between the individual and the collective: how the cult of the individual is promoted by commercial interests (and is taken to extremes in Scorsese’s film Taxi Driver, which gives the piece its title), and the benefits of collective effort (‘cooperation is working with others to do things that you can’t do for yourself’ – Richard Sennett).
As Hellstenius and Johnson move around the space, Peter Knudsen interprets the music and text with a light-based abstract video projection. Music, personal politics and philosophy merge in the darkened intimacy of Sentralen’s Hvelvet chamber.
Henrik Hellstenius – Performer
Victoria Johnson – Violin, live electronics
Peter Knudsen – Video
Bernt Isak Wærstad – Sound
Supported by NordArt senteret, Norges musikkhøgskole.