DLWP's nod to Cage for the spring

Dozens of people joined in the celebrations and had the opportunity to view John Cage exhibits, works by artists who had worked with or were influenced by him, along with enjoying the talents of Margaret Leng Tan, virtuoso of the toy piano.

Devoting an entire season to Cage’s work and influence is something that the DLWP’s director, Alan Haydon, feels passionately about. “Let me say here and now that I consider John Cage to be one of the great artists of the 20th century, and by that I mean a man who could translate the world around him in sound, image and words in ways that make us think again about the function of art without boundaries, definition or categorisation.”

Ms Leng Tan, who enjoyed a long friendship and collaborated with Cage from 1981 until his death in 1992, performed a selection of thought-provoking pieces on two toy pianos. Pieces which she says, “encapsulate the rich diversity of Cage’s oeuvre through works for piano, prepared piano, string piano and toy piano”.

Ms Leng Tan believes the toy piano to be, “a lovely non-threatening way to introduce audiences to new music”, adding: “People who normally would not attend a contemporary music concert have come to my toy performances out of curiosity and childhood nostalgia.

“My task is to entertain, inform and persuade. I know people have been persuaded when they leave with smiles on their faces.”

Some might think that Ms Leng Tan’s toy piano talents are a something of a gimmick, but she said this is not the case. “I have never been accused of gimmickry... 18 years is too long for a gimmick to survive!”

The DLWP’s curator David Rhodes said Cage is a “hugely influential figure in the music and art worlds” and producing the Pavilion’s spring programme has been “a daunting task”.

He said: “Instinctive responses to Cage have demanded a collaborative approach to create a programme unique to the Pavilion.

“The core of our John Cage season is a display in Gallery 1 of lesser-known prints, drawings, and watercolours. In Gallery 2, and around the building, a nod to Cage includes projects by some who have worked with the man himself such as Yoko Ono, Charles Atlas and Margaret Leng Tan.”

In addition there are newly commissioned works by artists including Shelley Parker and Charlie Hooker, along with six student proposals from Brighton University and Sussex Coast College.

In total, over seven weeks, there are 15 projects including three new commissions, six student works and 13 live events.

David said: “The intention is that a nod to Cage will go some way in materialising the spirit of the man and his individual perspective on the world. It also acts as a showcase for emerging artists’ new responses to Cage.”

Of the diverse programme Alan Haydon said: “The way I see it, experiencing new work can be exciting, occasionally disappointing, often thought-provoking, sometimes entertaining but above all, worth the risk.”

For further information visit the website at: www.dlwp.com