‘This multimedia, multisensory performance is a delightful exploration of the
power of collaboration and self-expression.’
Papillons is part of the Southbank centre’s Multitudes festival, an exciting initiative
which brings together artists from all walks of life and genres and invites them to
collaborate on new and vibrant projects. Papillons is no exception; a dance, film and
music collaboration responding to composer Kaija Saariaho’s 2000 piece Sept
Papillons, 7 miniature compositions for Cello which echo the life of a butterfly. The
piece brings together cellist Laura van der Heijden, dance company Thick and Tight,
multimedia artist CHAINES and The Camberwell Incredibles.
The performance plays out like a sort of lecture-theatre piece, with each fragment
being introduced by the artists. We start with CHAINES (Cee Haines), a composer
who blends classical and electronic instrumentation to fuel new expression, debuting
a new piece, entitled Oysters sing of silkworms, also for cello. Van der Heijden plays
with precision and elegance, expertly moving across the neck of the instrument.
Oysters sing of silkworms is an enchanting but dramatic piece, which fully utilises
every inch and sound possibility of the cello.
Next, Thick and Tight take to the stage. The dance duo, real names Daniel Hay-
Gordon and El Perry, give us a dance responding to Holst’s The fall of the leaf, a
beautifully arranged composition, again for cello, which tracks the journey of a leaf
from tree to ground. Van der Heijden plays, while thick and tight, with nuance and
grace, bring to life the arrangement with their signature style. They make full use of
the stage, fluttering and gliding with magnificent prowess.
Between these pieces, we are treated to work by the Camberwell Incredibles, a
community arts initiative making new work which celebrates creativity and passions
and also helps people with learning difficulties to express themselves through art,
film and music. We see projections from the Incredibles, who have again responded
to the idea of the butterfly, with vivid art pieces, poetry and song.
Papillons finishes with the four artists on stage again coming together once again
and giving us the last few phrases of Oysters sing of silkworms. This time, Van der
Heijden has switched to an electric cello, a skeletal and dystopian looking instrument
which has a sound which is eerie and dark. CHAINES provides us with droning
soundscape, and using a vocoder, produces something guttural and organic. Thick
and Tight once again move with the music, producing exquisite choreography.
Overall, Papillons is an extremely interesting exploration on how we find meaning
through art and music. It is beautifully constructed, with a view to being as
welcoming and accessible to everyone. There is nothing pretentious, nothing elitist,
as is often the case for classical music. Here we see something that aims to set
about a change in how we view the arts in general. It is refined, experimental, and
showcases some of the very best talent in Britain today.