apr 20 now Hello! The arts can be a powerful tool for influencing how to understand the world around us, particularly when it comes to experiences we haven’t had personally. While this can be positive, it can also result in reducing communities to cliché. This is particularly true for people with autism, who often are portrayed in cinema in a reductionist manner. Our season Autism and Cinema: An exploration of neurodiversity (see pages 5-6) seeks to change that, and asks us to consider what we might learn about our own worldview by looking at it from an autistic perspective. Pondering on identity is also something that’s occupied photographer Hans Eijkelboom, whose work forms part of our major exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography (page 12); while Virginia Woolf’s ground- breaking novel Orlando also explores what identity means – as Katie Mitchell and Alice Birch’s adaptation (page 13) shows. Also this month we welcome back Shards – the pioneering vocal group (page 2), and conductor Jaap van Zweden for his first concerts in London as the Music Director of the New York Phil (page 4). There’s exciting news about a new fashion range we’re producing (page 18), and if you want to get hands-on, head for one of our workshops (page 17). Contents Now The Barbican Young Visual Arts Group prepare for their showcase Highlights What’s coming up this month 1–4 A spectrum of perspectives 5–6 Cinema 7–8 Next Classical Music 9–10 Art & Design 11 Theatre & Dance 13 Contemporary Music 14 generation art Soon Book now for these Uncover work by promising artists forthcoming events 15–16 at our special showcase. Always The Barbican Young Visual Arts Group is As part of the programme, the group has Enjoy the Barbican a collective of creators who are developing visited exhibitions by Mark Leckey and at any time of day 17–18 and honing their practice through a Nam June Paik. Guest artists, including special programme of talks, workshops Lottie Anderson, are hosting sessions and guidance from established artists. on a variety of topics, with the aim of The participants work in a variety of broadening the participants’ practice. disciplines, including photography, The group is curating an exhibition illustration, digital media and film-making. of work, which will take place this Creative Learning Curator Josie Dick leads month, inspired by their course. the programme with artist Jordan McKenzie. Young Visual Arts Group Showcase She says: ‘The group took inspiration from 18–19 Apr the Art Gallery exhibition, Into the Night: For more information about the programme, Cabarets and Clubs in Modern Art, so see barbican.org.uk/takepart they’re considering themes of community, collaboration, and art in a social context.’ Cover photograph © James Deavin The Sculpture Garden has an interesting history – there are no longer any sculptures there – but that’s only one reason to visit. It’s also a peaceful escape from busier areas. 1 barbican.org.uk now soon always Vocal power Shards founder Kieran Brunt explains why humans are so gripped by the power of choral music. Shards’ concert at the Barbican will be ‘I wanted to bring people together who weren’t is the most natural way of sharing these something of a homecoming. The twelve- just good singers but had the right personality emotions. When you use it to make music strong choral group was formed for us too,’ says Brunt, who came to choral music rather than just screaming or shouting, by Kieran Brunt in 2016 when he was after singing in his school choir, before going it’s like stretching out the feeling and invited to put together a cohort of singers on to study at St John’s College, Cambridge. can be like meditating on them.’ for Nils Frahm’s Possibly Colliding. ‘The idea behind Find Sound was to make the He says after doing the concert with Frahm, The results were so successful – and they kind of choral record you haven’t heard before. he realised the group had something collaborated so well – that they continued Some of the tracks are just voices, but we’ve unique. ‘Until recently the highly trained working together, not only going on to pushed them to the forefront, while on others singers in choral music have been mostly in record on Frahm’s album All Melody, but the voices are very much in the background concert halls, churches and cathedrals. But I recording their own LP, Find Sound, for the and are the least important part of the music.’ feel like we’re a choir operating as a band.’ Erased Tapes record label last year. It’s a While the music uses electronic instruments Shards beguiling and boundary-pushing work, a and drums, there’s a deep connection to the 17 Apr collection of ‘miniature sonic paintings’ each power of the human voice at the heart of it all. See page 14 for details adding to an overall picture of the emotional confusion of early adulthood: the uncertainty, ‘The voice is the oldest instrument in existence,’ the excitement, the terror and relief. says Brunt. ‘There’s something special about using this part of your body and physicality to express something, whether it’s excitement or anger or pain. The voice Choral group Shards return to the Barbican after forming here in 2016 April 2020 2 now Barbican Box designer Tîna Bicât with Professor Marcus du Sautoy and the Barbican Box © Betty Laura Zapata Adding up to fun Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy reveals why he’s chosen items for the Barbican Box. The Barbican Primary Box is designed to Among the items du Sautoy selected is an ‘There’s a lot to explore in this Box,’ he adds. ignite creativity in the classroom through a apple. When cut in half horizontally it reveals a ‘What I hope pupils will discover is maths mixture of in-school artist visits and teacher five-pointed star. ‘Five is one of the Fibonacci is as simple as adding numbers together, development. This year the Box has been numbers,’ explains the University of Oxford but it’s also about patterns. Regardless of filled with items selected by mathematician professor of mathematics. ‘I wanted to illustrate the children’s passions, there should be and author Marcus du Sautoy, who’s chosen how these numbers can occur in nature.’ something in the Box that will appeal.’ things that weave together his specialism Continuing this theme, the Box itself is Developed by our Creative Learning with the arts. We asked him to tell us a few decorated in a Fibonacci spiral, which Team, Barbican Box is funded by examples of what he’s chosen and why. is created by using the numbers of the the Barbican Centre Trust. ‘One of the lovely things about primary sequence. It’s also a shape commonly found schools is you’re still allowed to go across in nature, such as in the spiral of a shell. subjects, rather than at secondary school One of the fun activities in the Box asks where you learn either maths or music or children to come up with a poem called science in each class,’ du Sautoy explains. ‘I’m a Fib (after Fibonacci), in which the a mathematician so I’ve chosen items relating number of syllables in a line is the sum to the Fibonacci numbers, a series in which of the preceding two, says du Sautoy. each number is the sum of the two preceding it: 1,1,2,3,5,8… However, these figures also have connections to nature, art, poetry and music.’ 3 barbican.org.uk now soon always Taking up Mahler’s baton Image © Roger Neve Gustav Mahler’s appointment as conductor of the New York Philharmonic in 1909 came as the orchestra embarked on its first series of tours. So it feels fitting that new Music Director, Jaap van Zweden, will conduct Mahler’s First and Second symphonies when he makes his The second piece being performed by London debut here with the orchestra. the New York Philharmonic during their forthcoming visit is the Second Symphony, The last decade has seen Netherlands- one of Mahler’s most popular and born van Zweden’s international presence successfulCaption works during his lifetime. span three continents, and he says he’s ‘very much looking forward to being ‘Mahler for me is a very special composer with in London with our great players.’ whom I feel a great affinity,’ says van Zweden. ‘While I love and conduct all of the Mahler He adds: ‘While this is my first symphonies, Symphonies 1 and 2 represent appearance in London with the New powerful beginnings to his entire symphonic York Philharmonic, there is a strong cycle, a cycle which vividly portrays the joy and Nothing Concrete existing connection between the orchestra tragedy he felt so intensely throughout his life.’ and the Barbican. For many years, the Podcast orchestra has had a very productive So, how does it feel to be taking on the residency at the Centre, and we are all role once also held by Mahler himself? looking forward to our upcoming one.’ ‘It’s very humbling and a great honour,’ Our new podcast Nothing Concrete is a says van Zweden. Discover more about one-stop shop where you’ll find special Mahler’s First Symphony was ground- van Zweden’s great predecessor when episodes and themed series related to breaking. Opening with the strings Barbara Haws, Archivist and Historian our programme. Get your ears around softly playing, it feels like the herald Emeritus of the New York Philharmonic Sound Unbound, a series introduced of a great journey, a stepping into a discusses Mahler’s New York: a legacy of by Josie Long featuring interviews world of adventure.