The performance is based on, and named after, an artwork in the form of a book by Jonathan Safran Foer, published in 2010. Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson used a combination of mirrors and coloured screens to create different abstract scenes for Wayne McGregor's Tree of Codes ballet.
"To me, books have always been about more than just print on paper. Tree of Codes addresses the book as a space that relates to our body. I look at the book as vibrant matter. It doesn't explain ideas, but vibrates them. It embodies a space and a narrative – or various narratives – within it," he continued. I tried to translate this feeling into the visual concept."
Olafur Eliasson
“The story and the poetry in [Jonathan Safran Foer’s] Tree of Codes are so magnetic, conjuring a whole range of visual, sonic and kinaesthetic im ages. I felt it would really be a phenomenal project to try and translate this book in some way through dance, imagery and sound – a new iteration.”
Wayne McGregor
Tree of Codes, the much - anticipated collaboration by choreographer Wayne McGregor, artist Olafur Eliasson and musician Jamie xx, first was in Manchester and last week received its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells.
Next step wil be in the Danish city of Aarhus. This city and the 18 other muni cipalities in Central Denmark Region celebrate 2017 as European Capital of Culture. The performance of Tree of Codes on 27 - 29 April 2017.
McGregor’s dynamic style and ground - breaking collaborative approach across dance, film, music, visual art, technology and science has seen him create an exceptional body of work. A Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, McGregor is renowned for his physically testing chor eography and highly innovative collaborations. He has created new works for Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, English National Ballet and Rambert, among others. He recently celebrated 10 ye ars as Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet.
Jamie xx is a composer, performer, music producer and remix artist, and is one of three members of The xx. The group formed in London in 2005. In 2015, following the release of several singles under his own name, he released In Colour, his first solo album, which was shortlisted as one of the 2015 Mercury Music Prize Albums of the Year and received nominations at the 2015 BRIT Awards and 2016 Grammy Awards. The xx recently released their third album I See You.
Next step wil be in the Danish city of Aarhus. This city and the 18 other muni cipalities in Central Denmark Region celebrate 2017 as European Capital of Culture. The performance of Tree of Codes on 27 - 29 April 2017.
McGregor’s dynamic style and ground - breaking collaborative approach across dance, film, music, visual art, technology and science has seen him create an exceptional body of work. A Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, McGregor is renowned for his physically testing chor eography and highly innovative collaborations. He has created new works for Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, English National Ballet and Rambert, among others. He recently celebrated 10 ye ars as Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet.
Jamie xx is a composer, performer, music producer and remix artist, and is one of three members of The xx. The group formed in London in 2005. In 2015, following the release of several singles under his own name, he released In Colour, his first solo album, which was shortlisted as one of the 2015 Mercury Music Prize Albums of the Year and received nominations at the 2015 BRIT Awards and 2016 Grammy Awards. The xx recently released their third album I See You.
