Exhibition

Ritournelle: a site-specific installation

21 Oct 2017 – 15 Jan 2018

Event times

Monday–Thursday 9am–3.30pm, and Friday & Saturday
9am–1pm.

Cost of entry

Free entry

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St John the Baptist church

Newcastle upon Tyne
England, United Kingdom

Event map

Ritournelle is a site-specific installation by French-Algerian artist Katia Kameli. It celebrates multiculturalism in Newcastle by bringing together the songs and patterns of those who travel to the North East from around the world.

About

Ritournelle (once more, from the top) is the result of Katia Kameli's artist-residency at the Church of St John the Baptist, Newcastle upon Tyne, which is programmed in collaboration with Platforma arts and refugee network. In response to an invitation to consider themes of residency, migration and belonging within the context of this medieval church, Kameli has produced new site-specific art work. Working with the plain glass windows of St John’s Kameli’s intervention will deploy coloured film within the small diamond panes, in patterns that recall design and architecture motifs native to some of the primary countries from which refugees and migrants relocate to Newcastle. Countries and designs referenced include Punjabi Phulkari and Congolese Kuba textiles and Iraqi mosaic design. For her sound work, Kameli invited migrants and refugees from the city, as well as members of the church choir, to sing a song which reminds them of home. These songs were recorded in situ over two days at St John the Baptist.

Ritournelle is a French word which derives from the Italian ritornello, a musical term which means to return, in English we might call this a musical refrain or chorus. In the French usage, the word is often applied to catchy songs which stick in the mind, something we can’t quite forget. Certain of Kameli’s recorded Songs from Home have this musical quality, a powerful hook, which in turn reminds us of the strength of our connections to home. The term was also adopted by French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari in their book A Thousand Plateaus, in which it is understood as related to territory: ‘it always carries earth with it; it has a land (sometimes a spiritual land) as its concomitant; it has an essential relation to a Natal, a Native.’

What to expect? Toggle

CuratorsToggle

Laura Purseglove

Exhibiting artistsToggle

Katia Kameli

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