A series of live productions in which Nick Cave's performers will intersect and respond to a field of dynamic, custom-fabricated objects designed by Gang and her practice as a part of the setting. Fabricating a changeable stage that could be used for other performance groups, Gang was inspired by the idea of a clearing for traditional dances, deciding to define the space through designed objects, instead of treating the stage as an object in itself. The performance series includes Cave’s newest performance works feature his iconic Soundsuits.
Since the pier extends 3,300 feet into the lake, buoys began to figure into Gang’s thinking. “Buoys move back and forth but they are on water; how do you do that in the land?” That led to the physics of self-balancing objects. The objects needed be soft, friendly, large-scale, and to fall down but not stay down. “Everything has an impact on the movement,” said Gang. “The visual impact of it, and the height, and the weight—it is all a balance.”
The first performance is scheduled for September 13 in Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom at 8 p.m., in time for the opening of EXPO CHICAGO (September 13 – 17, 2017). On Saturday, September 16, the program will move outdoors to Navy Pier’s Polk Bros Performance Lawn and South Dock at 5 p.m. as part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. The full Here Hear Chicago schedule will be released later this summer. All performances are free and open to the public, with limited and first-come-first-served seating available in the Aon Grand Ballroom.
