Ikon is one of the most important art galleries of Britain. Luckily, it’s located in Birmingham at the Brindleyplace area.
Renowned nationally and internationally for its innovative contribution to contemporary visual arts, Ikon Gallery is considered one of the Arts Council’s flag-ship contemporary art organisations. Ikon is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014-2015 with a series of special events and exhibitions but …
Did you know that…the lift at Ikon is also one of the best features of this outstanding gallery?
Martin Creed: Work no.409 is a permanent installation of Ikon that consists in a recorded choral piece that can be heard as soon as you take a ride at lift of the gallery. As soon as the elevator ascends or descends, it’s possible to listen to a amazing performance made by Ex-Catedra, the respectful UK choir based in Birmingham and founded by the choral conductor Jeffrey Skidmore.
Since his emergence as an artist during the early 1990s, Martin Creed has developed a practice characterised at once by conceptual stringency and a touching, deceptive, simplicity.
Logic is often taken to humorous extremes, resulting in something that is next to nothing, or alternatively a work that is completely arresting in its effect on the audience. Creed often works with music and his Work No. 409, a piece for choir and lift, is an installation in Ikon’s passenger lift, performed by Ex Cathedra, Birmingham’s renowned choir.
Take a ride at this fascinating lift now:
Martin Creed Work #409, 2005
For lift and choir bass, tenor, alto and soprano voices
Performed by Ex Cathedra. Artistic Director and Conductor Jeffrey Skidmore
Sorry for the cheeky comment and laughs in the end of the video.
Photos and video | Simone Ribeiro
Source | Ikon Gallery
