Dylan Martorell: Duppy Musique Povera

Martorell creates sound-based installations and sculptures drawing on whatever materials and objects are at hand. His work combines an acute attention to detail with an ad-hoc bowerbird aesthetic. Each piece is highly considered, yet still retains the spontaneity of improvisation.

For Duppy Musique Povera, Martorell will present a selection of hand-made musical instruments built from found materials such as discarded tins, plastic bags, wood, toys, rocks and metal alongside a series of drawn musical compositions, re-housed speakers and a wearable sound system. Martorell’s work reflects a mix of cultural influences garnered from his travels abroad, most notably Southeast Asia and Morocco.

The exhibition title is derived from two important mid-twentieth century European movements: the French school of Musique Concréte and Italian Arte Povera. The word ‘duppy’ means ‘ghost’ or ‘double’ in Jamaican Patois, referring to Martorell’s practice of re-housing and re-purposing found objects into multi-functional sound systems. This also references the double life of Martorell’s objects – as both crafted sculptures and musical instruments.

An artist performance and instrument demonstration will take place at Object Gallery on Saturday 29 January 2011, 1 – 3pm.

Duppy Musique Povera will be on exhibition at Object Gallery until Sunday 3 April 2011. In Good Company will be showing concurrently in Object’s Main Space.