Performance of sound, light, and interior architecture in the Valcucine showroom
On Wednesday, October 16th, coinciding with the international fair Sicam, Valcucine hosted “Paesaggi integrati” an immersive experience of sound, light, and interior architecture created by Turin-based artist Simone Sims Longo. This performance is part of Polinote Music (in) Factory, a festival celebrating the intersection of the production world and creativity, featuring free events scheduled between October and November 2024 at exclusive locations in Pordenone and its province.
The event took place in the Valcucine showroom, an ever-evolving architectural laboratory typically open to design professionals, retailers, and architects. Guests had the opportunity to experience a prestigious space that showcases the complete Valcucine collection while narrating the brand's core values through an evocative story interwoven with history, technical innovations, and craftsmanship. The showroom serves not only as an exhibition stage but also as a training ground where visitors can experience the products firsthand and discover the solutions that have revolutionized kitchen design.
Simone Sims Longo presented a multisensory performance that engaged with and was fueled by the surrounding context. During the live performance, pieces were reinterpreted and paired with a light score, creating a visual environment that shaped the architectural space and played with the audience's perception. Among the sound materials reworked by the artist were characteristic sounds embodying Valcucine's identity, fostering a reciprocal enhancement.
The event also provided an opportunity to taste some local delicacies offered by Cantina Pitars, a family-owned winery symbolizing the quality of Made in Friuli products. The tasting accompanied the anticipation of twilight, the moment when the performance began, making the experience even more exclusive and engaging.
The festival
Polinote Music (in) Factory celebrates the intersection of the production world and creativity, with free events scheduled between October and November 2024 at exclusive locations in Pordenone and its province. The festival's artistic direction is led by Francesco Bearzatti, a clarinetist and saxophonist with international collaborations and discography, including work with Enrico Rava and Joe Lovano. A multi-award-winning musician, he received the prestigious award for Best European Musician from the French Jazz Academies in 2011. He is currently active as a performer worldwide and in national festival direction.
The artist
Simone Sims Longo is an artist who works with sound and new media. His activities range from composing electronic music fixed on a medium to sound design and sound installations. As a composer, he is interested in the creation and manipulation of sound in the digital domain, focusing on timbral processing in a continuous search for balance between synthesized sound and sampled sound. In his works, he often employs a multi-iteration of samples, embracing the shifting and complexities of polyrhythmic variations within sound textures. Through multi-channel diffusion, he explores space and utilizes the interaction of sound with architectural elements.
Ph credits: Antonio Pio Roseti
Longo is fascinated by natural reverberation and the qualities of sound diffusion achieved through various materials. He focuses his live performances on the relationship between sound and image or sound and light, creating performances that explore the perception of audio-visual phenomena.
He has presented his compositions at various festivals and institutions dedicated to new media, including the Spektrum Art Science Community in Berlin, ZKM in Karlsruhe, the EAST2015 festival at Le Magasin in Grenoble, and the Rome festival.
Ph credits: Polinote