Dear Serge brings sound, light and visual art to the seaside

A new festival Dear Serge will bring visual art, light and sound artists to Bexhill-on-Sea, where they will celebrate architect Serge Chermayeff.

De La Warr Pavillion, designed by Serge Chermayeff in 1935

Source: Bridget Smith

De La Warr Pavillion, designed by Serge Chermayeff in 1935

Chermayeff designed the Modernist De La Warr pavilion in 1935, which will play host to the festival.

Rather then an esoteric pilgrimage where artists pay homage to Chermayeff himself, it’s more about sharing new work in the spirit of the architect.

Contemporary music, sound, and visual art are all part of the month-long agenda, which includes work by artist Ian Helliwell, who will be exhibiting sculptures comprising synthesizer circuitry within found containers.

'Manic expressive' Ron Gessin will perform
‘Manic expressive’ Ron Gessin will perform

He has also created the documentary Practical Electronica, which will be screened at the festival and aims to uncover the work of sound pioneer Fred Judd an electronic music experimentalist.

In a separate workshop Helliwell will help visitors make their own tape loop using the same techniques as early electronic music composers.

We love the topsy-turvy subversion a camera obscura brings so are quite intrigued to see how visual artist, singer and composer Ellen Southern will perform within one in her piece All Her Music, which combines live and recorded voices.

The Hellisizer

Rather then hiring a DJ to fill gaps between live performances, The Spirit of Gravity: Electrocrèche installation will be opened up to visitors.

It’s a table consisting of drum machines, small synthesizers, Nintendo Gameboys and other hacked or un-hacked equipment, rigged up to the venue PA.

The Hellisizer

The enjoyment is bound to be found by those making rather then listening to the results, but what a lovely idea.

Dear Serge is a free season of events beginning on 20 April at the De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, TN40

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