Are you Allergic to the 20th Century?

ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO THE 20TH CENTURY?

Frédérique De MontblancMadaleine Trigg

Nadine is an arts laboratory aimed at developing research focusing on transdisciplinary experi-ments in the fields of new media and live arts. Nadine is a flexible and evolving project that doesn’t shy away from questioning itself, to be able to stay on top of the constantly changing needs of the artists

Plateau is an arts laboratory for research resi-dencies in which the artist and his/her project take centre stage. This space is primarily geared towards performance, media and installation art.

Herdersstraat 30 rue du Berger – 1050 Brussels

Frédérique De Montblanc and Madaleine Trigg share a common interest in exploring and sub-verting the resonances of materials and their impact on body and scenography. For their first collaboration, they reflected on spaces that can both constrain movement and offer new perfor-mance possibilities. Their dramaturgical research focused on cases of environmental disease, cabin fever, the impact of solitary confinement in prisons, artificial gravity, insomnia, the history of monomania in art practice and the tension between domestic and artistic routines.

During their initial residency at Nadine, they designed a series of experiments for each other. Specifically responding to the site of Plateau, they composed confined spaces which they filled with familiar yet dislocated objects. In this fabri-cated domesticity, they explored new interactions between space, body, props and documentation. Indeed, these surreal domestic settings created novel living spaces in which the body was faced with new constraints and the mind with a fresh set of rules. Inhabiting the cupboard under a sink or the awkward square centimeters around a toilet became an exercise in preparing for the apocalyptic future. Indeed, as World population growth accelerates, we must train ourselves to function in increasingly small spaces.

For their second residency, composer Loup Mormont was invited to extend these experi-mentations through sound. By adding environ-mental soundscapes, Loup investigated how to sonically re-shape space and analyze its effects on the physical and emotional behavior of the per-formers. Madaleine and Frédérique also confined Loup’s sonic language through various prompts and surprise impositions.

This catalogue documents Frédérique De Montblanc and Madaleine Trigg’s work during their residency at Nadine and was made for the end presentation that took place on Thursday, October 4th, 2012.

Dimensions: Length × width × height

Photos: © 2012 Frédérique De Montblanc and Madaleine Trigg

Design: Marie Lécrivain

Printed on Riso at Nadine in 50 copies

10/2012 — Brussels

Please do not try these exPeriments at home.

Nadine 5 1st Residency

A/ Each experiment was video documented on mini DV tapes.B/ The set and props were pho-tographed before and after the experiment.C/ The framing of the video/photographs were determined by the participant designing the space.D/ The performer was respon-sible for turning on and off the video camera.E/ Performers had to write in their journal after the event.

1/ NEON IS THE NEW SUN: There should be no access to natu-ral lighting. Artificial and practical light prevails.2/ BODY × BODY × BODY: The space shouldn’t be larger or longer than the taller performer’s body length. The space should be at least the height of the taller per-former’s body when raising their arm straight up in the air.3/ LIMITED AMENITIES: The performer will be given either one type of food or one type of drink. Two or three props will be added to these vital necessities.4/ ARTIFICIAL REALITY: The only window to the world, the time of day or the season will come through sound and artificial light only.5/ ONE HOUR DAY: Each performance will be one hour long.

1st Residency June 2012

Conditions oF the exPeriments

Frédérique’s space Madaleine’s space Frédérique’s space Madaleine’s space

1st Residency 6

Nadine Nadine 7 1st Residency

ExPERIMENT 1: 04/06/12

The staircase leading down from Nadine’s office. Completely wrapped in white cloth so that it is enclosed.436 cm × 73 cm × 99 cm1 black umbrella

Madaleine’s bedroom 401 cm × 337 cm × 207 cm2 cans of 500 ml Red bull1 bar of soap1 brown elastic band2 mattresses hung from the ceiling


Shower in Madaleine’s room88 cm × 88 cm × 211 cm576 different coloured children’s building blocks (covered the entire floor of the shower)1 banana1 bottle of chocolate milk1 toothbrush

The technical storage corridor448 cm × 81 cm x239 cm1 tin of lychees8 mattresses1 wooden hammer tied to a pink cord

ExPERIMENT 3: 07/06/12 (A)

Back toilet 145 cm × 89 cm × 207 cm2 mugs of black Lipton tea1 sieve filled with red onions1 scourerToilet paper replaced with white masking tape.

Constructed space 138 cm × 99 cm × 200 cmGreen fake grass carpet covering the floor1 Piggy bank (filled with euro cents)1 Percolator15 clear plastic cups 9 white plastic spoons1 grey dustpan and brush

Frédérique’s space Madaleine’s space Frédérique’s space Madaleine’s space

1st Residency 8


ExPERIMENT 4: 07/06/12 (b)

Constructed space with pole danc-ing structure in the middle 264 cm × 325 cm × 225 cm10 wedding dresses700 toothpicks45 tea lights1 jar pickled ginger

On top of the sink in Madaleine’s bathroom 183 cm × 59 cm × 126 cm2 bags of crisps (in sink)4000 boxes of matches (in sink)1 rolling pin1 pink swimming costume (belonging to Madaleine)1 pair of sequinned high heels (belonging to Madaleine)1 bronzer with make up brush


Corridor by front toilets336 cm × 88 cm × 197 cm1 ironing board4 confectionary watches/necklaces22 cheap white balloons10 large egg crates

Constructed space 167 cm × 116 cm × 200 cmblack couch fills the space1 box of tissues1 pepper grinder1 roll of scotch tape


On top of the sink in the kitchen 181 cm × 60 cm × 62 cm1 kg bag of Carrefour self raising flour1 white toilet roll1 red tape measurer14 pegs (4 blue, 3 red, 7 yellow)

Constructed space 167 cm × 116 cm × 200 cmblack couch fills the space1 hole puncher1 tube of Colgate tooth paste2 dummies (1 pastel blue, 1 pastel green)

Frédérique’s space Madaleine’s space

1st Residency 10




Constructed space 100 cm × 128 cm × 200 cmfilled with a stainless steel table650 Kruidvat sweeteners1 roll of clingfilm1 can of squirty cream1 bag of ice cubes

Under the sink in Madaleine’s bathroom 183 cm × 59 cm × 79 cm1 water filter filled with diluted milk1 broken keyboard1 plastic measuring jug.

ExPERIMENT 8: 19/06/12(1ST ExPERIMENT WITH SOUNDSCAPE)

Constructed space 100 cm × 128 cm × 200 cmfilled with a stainless steel table1 packs of 60 Cystine B6 Bailleul Zinc pills4 effervescent Dafalgan tablets1 roll of clingfilm1 can of squirty cream1 bag of ice cubes


1st Residency 12


Frédérique’s space Frédérique and Madaleine’s space Madaleine’s space

ExPERIMENT 9: 19/06/12(2ND ExPERIMENT WITH SOUNDSCAPE)

Constructed space 167 cm × 116 cm × 200 cmblack couch fills the space

1 plastic cup filled with Gina lemon instant tea granules

1 × 12 ml tub of Nivea creme1 roll of bandage

pastel coloured cotton wool puffs


Front toilet 153 cm × 80 cm × 203 cm

1 block of butter 1 can of hairspray

1 jar of 6 Carrefour wieners7 corksSound recording of Madaleine’s dream house

2 fly swatters (1 green, 1 red)Sound recording of Frédérique’s dream house

(Duration: 20’23”) (Duration: 21’25”)

Nadine 15 2nd Residency

—iTtunes is in the midst of destroying all the classical music files on the internet. In 24 hours classical music will be extinct.—Create sound obstacles in the space.—The soundtrack for a porno movie for rabbits.—You are commissioned to create a musical overture for a neo fascist Olympics, where do you start?—The soundtrack for shopping in supermarket aisles.—The feeling of the first pill you ever took on a night out.—Attending a birthday party with 12 screaming 5 year olds, high on cupcakes and jelly.—A labyrinth, where every time you turn the walls have disap-peared behind you.—A sonata for outer space.—You create a piece for a person who has been deaf since birth.—A room gradually filling up with water until you drown.—Soundtrack for a headache.—Zombie perverts took over the sound system.—The walls are burning, a tor-nado is on its way.

—What would you play to remind an amnesic of his childhood?—An evening lullaby for a baby rhino.—The first slow you danced on—You can’t afford to buy her flowers, how would a bouquet sound like?—Choose a pointer: pick a body part or movement that you will respond to. For example: the left foot moving. And see how long it takes us to realize it/act upon it.—A question—The sound of sunrise.—You just woke up and you’re 50.—A dog spa.—Compose a soundscape for ille-gitimate couples in motel rooms.—Light.—A meditation tape before going to the dentist.—The birth of radio wave.—Music for a wedding. You secretly hate the bride.

2nd ResidencySeptember 2012

sound ProPositions For sound exPeriments

2nd Residency 16

Nadine Nadine 17 2nd Residency

Frédérique and Madaleine’s space


Odd small corridor (in between a wall and a glass window)

in Madaleine’s new apartment at Nadine 189 cm × 47 cm × 111 cm

1 bar of soap1 roll of blue electrical tape1 roll of red electrical tape

1 knife1 pack of 5 Bubblicious bubblegum

1 neon 1 bedside lamp

Remix of soundscapes from the first residencies sonic experiments.

Frédérique and Madaleine’s space


Constructed space in Madaleine’s old bedroom, divided so that the performers had an equal sized space

201 cm × 152 cm × 207 cm 1 box of Kellogs Rice Krispies

1 pillow1 board with protruding wooden pegs

2 towels2 portable neons 1 bedside lamp

Advertisement soundtracks: Narta (1988) (EU) Ricoré (1982) (EU)

Biscuits Bamboula (1990) (EU)Ferrero Rocher (1990s) (EU)

Carambar (1990s) (EU)Ajax (1964) (US)

Toilet Duck (1992) (NZ)Pledge (2000) (US)

Febreeze (2000) (US)Anti Itch Lanacane Cream (1998) (US)

Lysol (2000) (US)

Loup records Frédérique pouring milk onto a bowl of Rice Krispies.Loup records Madaleine running her fingernails across a radiator.

2nd Residency 18


Frédérique’s space Frédérique and Madaleine’s space

Madaleine’s space


Constructed space in Madaleine’s old bedroom, divided so that the perform-ers had an equal sized space201 cm × 152 cm × 207 cm

1 bag of toffee popcorn1 750ml tub of extra strong yellow styling gel1 set of 8 cookie cutters80 green paper cupcake holders10 pairs of size 6 plastic gloves

1 roll of red rose gift wrapping paper1 roll of red electrical tape1 blue plastic swimming cap4 packets of Cent Wafers1 plastic fake cactus plant (which lights up)

1 duvet2 portable neons 1 bedside lamp

iTunes is in the midst of destroying all the classical music files on the internet.

In 24 hours classical music will be extinct.Create sound obstacles in the space.

The soundtrack for a porno movie for rabbits.


Madaleine’s space

You are commissioned to create a musical overture for a neo fascist Olympics, where do you start?

The soundtrack for shopping in supermarket aisles.

2nd Residency 20



Madaleine’s spaceFrédérique’s space Frédérique and Madaleine’s space

Madaleine’s space

Frédérique picks 3 sound propositions for Madaleine:

You just woke up and you’re 50.Light.

Music for a wedding. You secretly hate the bride.


Larger space in Madaleine’s old bedroom, black couch,

2 legged table fills the room317 cm × 212 cm × 207 cm

1 pack of sunflower seedsPost-it notes, both large squares and small strips (neon pink, bright orange, neon yellow and lime green)1 can of bright pink silly string.2 portable neons+1 portable video camera

90 long bamboo skewers1 pair of silver shoe insoles6 Capri Sonnes2 sink plugs2 portable neons+1 portable video camera

Madaleine picks 3 sound propositions for Frédérique:

Attending a birthday party with 12 screaming 5 year olds, high on cupcakes and jelly.

Compose a soundscape for illegitimate couples in motel rooms.You just woke up and you’re 50.

22

Biographies

FRéDéRIqUE DE MONTBLANC

Born and raised in Brussels, Frédérique de Montblanc completed her BFA in Theatre at Concordia University in Montreal in 2004. She then obtained her MFA from the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) in Los Angeles in 2007. Both scenographer and video artist, her work has been exhibited in Los Angeles (Outpost Gallery for Contemporary Art, Highways Performance Space, BetaLevel Gallery, CalArts), Houston (Lawndale Art Center, Artstorm Gallery, Slab in Temporary Space, Nance Street Studios), Brussels (Nadine, Vasthouse, BAF, Art Asylum) and Paris (Galerie Martine et Thibault de la Chatre). Her video La Cave is currently airing on the web channel of Arte creative. Her set design work includes Firebird and Titus Andronicus with the Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre Company based in Houston, Tx. More recently, she has designed I Would Prefer Not To by Selma Alaoui (Theatre les Tanneurs, Brussels) for which she was nominated at ‘le Prix de la Critique 2010-11’ as well as Les Buveuses de Cafe by Compagnie Mossoux-Bonte (Theatre Romain Rolland, Paris | Internationales Figurentheater, Erlangen | Theatre des Brigittines, Brussels). www.frédériquedemontblanc.com

MADALEINE TRIGG

Madaleine is a performance artist and pho-tographer. Since graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2008, she has toured her solo, Sutre, nationally and inter-nationally. Sutre features sculptural costumes that evolve and decay as a visual echo to the performer’s emotions. The piece culminates in a disintegrating dress, which has also been transformed into a hologram through a collabo-ration with Musion. This was exhibited at the Kinetica Art fair (London), The Wrong Weather Gallery (Porto) and also represented the UK in the Extreme Costume Exhibition at the 2011 Prague quadrennial.

Madaleine’s latest performance, The Darkroom, premiered at this year’s Brighton Fringe Festival. This piece was inspired by the photograms cre-ated by Hiroshima and Nagasaki and merges a

poetic monologue by Alan Fielden with live pho-tographic processing.

Madaleine regularly collaborates with other art-ists and has performed at the ICA, the Place, the Roundhouse, BAC, Shunt lounge and the National Theatre Studio.

Madaleine’s photographic practice experiments with pinhole cameras, photograms and alterna-tive processes; enabling her to print images onto glass, wood and metal. www.madaleinetrigg.com

LOUP MORMONT

Settled in Brussels in 1999, where he discovered experimental and electroacoustic music. He joined the Royal Conservatory of Mons where he completed his Master’s degree in acous-matic composition with Annette Vande Gorne. He won the « Limerick 2010 Diffusion Prize ». Loup Mormont wrote pieces for singers, dancers and filmmakers. Now, he’s also Lecturer at the Royal Conservatory of Mons.

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ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO THE 20TH CENTURY?

If the following symptoms occur: loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, increased sexual drive, insomnia, paranoia, slurring, uncontrollable and erratic behaviour,

please consult your therapist immediately.

Documents

Are you Allergic to the 20th Century?