Creating Multidisciplinary Encounters: a Visit to Luxembourg

I have travelled to Luxembourg between 23 and 26 September 2019 to meet with my Tandem partners Giovanni Zazzera and Rhiannon Morgan, founders of Lucoda Dance in Luxembourg.

Together, we are working on ChoreoChroma, a multilateral collaboration between dance, painting, digital visual arts, and music within the framework of the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection/Novi Sad/ECOC 2021 which will then be transposed and presented within Esch ECOC 2022. During Novi Sad 2021, this artistic collaboration will result in a live interactive performance whereby the audience is invited to partake in a sensorial journey that explores the legacy of the Pavle Beljanski Museum in its contemporary expression. The artistic research and residency periods between the Choreographers Rhiannon Morgan and Giovanni Zazzera, the painter Chantal Maquet and their artistic team (which will consist of five dancers, a Visual Jockey, Music Composer amongst others) will ensure an optimum environment for the creation of an innovative, experimental and bold project to emerge whose main focus is simply to make art an accessible experience for all.

After arriving at the Canopée Residence for artists in Luxembourg City, I had the opportunity to meet other artists from different fields from Luxembourg. After this warm welcome, I proceeded to explore the Luxembourg city center, where possible ideas and wishes for the Tandem Collaboration were discussed.

The second day there was a meeting with Bernard Baumgarten from 3CL (Centre Choreographic du Luxembourg). Following the exchange with Bernard, the project received his full support making 3CL an official partner for our collaboration. In short, the 3CL would be willing to provide rehearsal space along with the possibility of presenting a “Work In Progress” during the research phase of the project in the form of a special evening dedicated to the collaboration between Novi Sad 2021 and Esch 2022.

On the same day, we visited the National Museum of History and Art, the “Op der Schmeltz” center in Dudelange, where we were welcomed by Marlène Kreins. Following this meeting, we were able to establish a link with Marlène and consider finding an opportunity to work together on this project. Marlène put us into contact with the painter Chantal Maquet. After that, we visited the Belval site (university, blast furnaces, library, …).

On the third day, we visited the city of Esch sur Alzette (Kufa, Esch Theater, …), discussed and elaborated further on the project. The highlight of the day was meeting with Chantal Maquet in her studio at the castle of Bourglinster, where we presented our project idea to her. Following this meeting, we were able to exchange ideas, and Chantal will collaborate with us in this project as an artist-interpreter. At the end of this day rich of experiences, we visited the Mudam Museum of Modern Art in Luxembourg City.

Finally, on 26 September, we had a meeting with Christian Moeser and Mélanie de Jamblinne de Meux from Esch 2022. Following this meeting, we made a report and shared our results from the “ChoreoChroma” project (working title of the project). The exchange was very positive, informative and useful for the next stages. After this last meeting, we visited Differdange and its surroundings “Lasauvage”. At last, we did a debriefing in Niederkorn, with a project plan and strategy for the next steps and meetings during the realisation of the project.

After this very intense first meeting filled with rich exchanges, we were able to set up the “ChoreoChroma” prototype project which will evolve during our next stages of meetings and work that will be held in Novi Sad (Lucoda’s visit to Novi Sad from 20 to 24 October 2019).

We are also thinking about the sustainability of the project as it could be further presented and promoted in other places as a result of cooperation between the Lucoda and the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection notably with its continuity in the Esch 2022 context. The project implementation phases will be recorded by video and the project would be followed by a feedback method for the public, professionals, and artists, thus highlighting the importance of merging different art forms and interdisciplinary cooperation.

We thank Tandem for this unique opportunity to share and experience these days in Luxembourg and be able to have the time to truly meet and exchange with each other on an artistic and personal level.