Sportmax Commissions Sonic Remix Art in Motion

Sound without words is a powerful medium for a message. In this case it happens to be a call to listen to culture.

Sound, motion and fashion meet in a cross-pollinated collaboration between the new collection from Sportmax, Sebastien Agneessens of Formavision and dancer Jodi Melnick on Nov. 12, built around a display of audio grandeur. “Each speaker corresponds to a specific instrument, and they all play together as an orchestra,” Agneessens explains.

This will be the second installment after the success of the first in a series of performances at the Sportmax store, which was built upon the music of Agneessens and Kyle Fischer, founder of End Up Records and former Rainer Maria guitarist.

To create the intended effect for the performance, sound samples from indigenous cultures, such as descendants of slaves in the Mississippi Delta to Scottish tweed workers (provided by the Associate for Cultural Equity) are blended with contemporary tracks by artists Andrew Vladeck and Caithlin De Marrais under Seb Lyon and Fischer’s arrangements. The remixes are projected through six oblong speakers made of replicated zebrawood, which is an endangered species native to the Congo.

Agneessens runs Formavision, a curatorial design studio that dreams up art projects for global brands such as Marithe Francois Girbaud. Agneessens is also French-born musician who has recently released a record as Seb Leon.

In his upcoming follow up performance with dancer Melnick, two artists will interpret these themes of global culture and consciousness with the component of movement added. Melnick, a former Twyla Tharp company member, is a two-time Bessie winner whose work has been presented across New York City.

The third performance is scheduled for Agneessens and dancer/choreographer Andrea Miller of Gallim Dec. 10.
More on Seb Lyon/Fischer/Sportmax
New Yorker on the Town

More Art on Gotryke:
Reopening of Museum del Barrio
Vitamin 3-D
Gotryke’s Lee Quinones on the Wall