Arnau Sala IN RESiDENCE at the School Escola Trinitat Nova

SOUND SEQUENCES

The artist introduces the concept of sound sequencing to the class and explains how this can be represented through images or signs. Using this notion as a basis, the students construct their own sound sequences, recording them and creating their representation into a system of vignettes made using pencil and paper.

INTRODUCTION OF ARTISTIC CONCEPTS AND VISIT TO THE MACBA

Some artistic concepts associated with abstraction are important in the work of Arnau Sala. In the first sessions he speaks to the students about the notion of music versus  noise, of the non-figurative representation, etc., and proposes exercises so that the students may better understand the concept. All this knowledge will be very handy in preparation for the guided tour of the general collection at the MACBA in mid December. 

STROLLING AROUND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

We take a couple of strolls around Trinitat Nova, visiting some of the students' favourite places. It becomes ever more apparent that the interests and concerns of the class will play an ever increasing significant role in the final work. It is through these walks that the concept of a map also appears as a key element in order to support the conclusion of the process

MASH-UP SESSION: THE STUDENTS TAKE THE REINS

It is proposed that the mash-up session should be associated with the idea of synaesthesia, coinciding with exercises carried out in class afterwards. The students think it is a good idea, but they propose that the session be transferred to another place, introducing two of their points of interest: food and topics relating to terror and parapsychology. The artist lets them do this and the result is a very original session in which the students become empowered by taking the reins of the creation proposed from the teachers.

IMAGINING THE FINAL WORK

Between the sessions in the classroom and the visits to Hangar, the final work starts to take shape and will include several spaces that will reflect on the different stages of life: ‘party’, ‘love and friendship’, ‘peace’, ‘social control’, ‘parallel worlds’ and ‘death’. In these sections, each student or group of students reflects on these concepts through a wide variety of artistic disciplines.

PRESENTATION AT HANGAR

On 10 June, “At some time in our lives” is presented in the Sala Ricson at Hangar. The audience listen to the introduction to the work delivered by Arnau Sala and the students, and then have a tour of the installation, visiting the different conceptual spaces. To close the event, the students are very excited to explain their thoughts on the experience and answer questions raised by members of the audience.

RELATED ACTION: VISIT TO THE MACBA (16/12/20)

A guided tour of the MACBA museum is carried out where students try to grasp the meaning of some of the works, through concepts introduced by Arnau Sala such as minimalism or serialism.

RELATED ACTION: PARTICIPATIVE CONCERTS WITH ANTON COSTA-MONTEIRO (27/01/21)

The improviser and sound artist, Anton Costa-Monteiro, does a group improvisation using only paper elements. The students participate in the concert and then initiate a small debate about binomes such as music/noise or organised music/disorganised music.

RELATED ACTION: VISIT TO THE HANGAR (17/03/21)

The group of students visited the Hangar artistic production centre, where Arnau Sala has his workspace. The artist showed some of the projects he was working on at that time and they were able to gain a greater understanding and insight into his creation method. They were also able to visit the workshops of other artists at the centre.

Relations with other groups or teachers from the school

In February, the mash-up session with teaching staff from the school took place. The students designed a dynamic using both spaces. The first was a gastronomic tasting of very recognisable foods (very salty, spicy...) accompanied by music and a colour was also projected in the room. The idea was to create a synaesthetic contrast between the different elements in play. A relaxed environment was created in the second space (candles, gentle music…) to generate a series of conversations between students and teaching staff about the different topics.