LIA / DanceMusicTheater Projects

“LIA Mirabell Talks”, March 2021: AV-documented walks in Salzburg’s Mirabell Gardens discuss Karin Mairitsch’s book (Sept. 2020) on Helmi Vent’s Lab Inter Arts, focusing on “Hätte Hätte Fahrradkette” [shoulda woulda coulda]. A 4-part film series (Nov. 2020) replacing a canceled Mozarteum book event.

The film “Hätte Hätte Fahrradkette [shoulda woulda coulda] – A Performance Lab” documents the process of the Lab Inter Arts project of the same name with students from different fields of study at the Paris-Lodron University Salzburg and the Mozarteum University Salzburg in the winter semester 2015-16.

“Performance Studio”, an AV-documented experimental platform at Salzburg’s “Science & Art” (2015–16), led by Helmi Vent, explores Lab Inter Arts processes over a semester. Features excerpts from participants’ university and life studies. Released 2016 as the film “Hätte Hätte Fahrradkette. A Performance Lab”.

“Next Door – Between Life Art and Leberkas” (62 min.) documents the 2012–13 Lab Inter Arts project “Lebenskünstler – Lebenskunst”. Explores neighbors’ life plans inspiring creative cycles of giving and exchanging for sustainable culture. Prod. & direction: Helmi Vent. Prem. Oct. 15, 2014, DAS KINO.

“30 years – Where would we end up?” (May 17, 2013): Jubilee film and retirement celebration for Helmi Vent at Mozarteum's Solitär, moderated by Julia Schwarzbach. LIA (1983–present), a top experimental, interdisciplinary, and intercultural Lab Inter Arts, won the 2013 Ars docendi Prize.

“Life artists – Life Art” (2012–13): Salzburg’s non-mainstream life artists spark Lab Inter Arts projects. Their life ‘stages’ and life ‘works’ inspire creative exchanges in applied humanities for ‘Doing Joint Culture’ and social anthropology. Text: Paolo Bianchi. Supported by Helmi Vent.

“Performative Self-Portraits Part II” (2012) extends 2011’s improvisation project, crafting AV-documented performance portraits. Ends with a public screening and discussion on May 15, 7:30 p.m., at Mozarteum University’s Solitär, Salzburg, moderated by Helmi Vent.

“REP & RIP – REPertoire In Process” (Feb. 10–29, 2012): Experimental vocal theatre in Manado, Indonesia. With Manado State Univ. Choir, André de Quadros (Boston Univ.), and Helmi Vent (Mozarteum's Lab Inter Arts). Site-specific project with AV-recording and editing: Martin G. Hantich.

“ConCom India Part III – 2011”: After Lab Inter Arts projects in Goa (2009) and Mumbai (2010), “City Walks Mumbai 2010” film is screened at Austrian Cultural Forum, New Delhi. Salzburg participants reflect on Mumbai encounters, locals' perceptions, intercultural shifts, with Homi K. Bhabha's texts.

“Performative Self-Portraits Part I” (2011–12), a Lab Inter Arts project at Mozarteum University Salzburg, part of Science and Art platform. Explores memory, ‘pro-trahere’ (drawing forth), and performative portrait design. Inspired by Rimbaud's “Je est un autre” and Keupp's “Patchwork identity”.

A five-day guest course (Oct. 29 – Nov. 2, 2010) with Lisa Sokolov, US singer and NYU voice art professor, at Mozarteum's Lab Inter Arts. Her Embodied VoiceWork seminar enhances integral voice and body work for students. Supervised by Helmi Vent. Sponsored by Salzburg's Special Cultural Projects.

“Film Documents II: City Walks Mumbai 2010” (42 min.): screening and discussion (6 April 2011, Mozarteum Univ.). Focus on the project's artistic, communicative, and socio-cultural impact, with studies by Homi K. Bhabha. Film production and moderation: Helmi Vent. AV post-prod.: Martin G. Hantich.

“Multi-Stage-Theatre” (2010–11), a collaboration between Mozarteum University, Paris Lodron University, and Salzburg UAS’s MultiMediaArt program, led by Helmi Vent. Explores SpaceSoundBody, experimental group compositions, AV recording, and people-spaces research in the open FHS foyer.

“ConCom City Walks Mumbai 2010” documents a three-week exchange (Sept. 5–27, 2010) between Salzburg students and Mumbai partners. It explores daily perspective shifts, connecting with locals through art to bridge cultures, a leitmotif of Lab Inter Arts’ ConCom series. Directed by Helmi Vent.

In May 2010, Lab Inter Arts‘ film archive, including “Zwischen Leier und Rotkohl”, “Will you play your hurdy-gurdy?” (1995), and “KrautCuts” (2010), is presented at Mozarteum's Solitär for cultural-social discussion. Live performance by Judith Hirsch. Film conceived and moderated by Helmi Vent.

“ConCom Goa 2009” is an intercultural exchange and performance project between Lab Inter Arts, Salzburg, and Kala Academy’s School of Drama, Goa. Informed by Homi K. Bhabha’s cultural studies, it’s initiated by André de Quadros, led locally by Padmashree Josalkar, and realized by Helmi Vent.

“Basement Theatre” (2009), led by Helmi Vent at Lab Inter Arts, explores basement spaces, promoted by Science and Art. Rough stairs, dark steps, and odd room rules spark aesthetic and political questions amid dirt, dust, and white tiles, challenging spatial and cultural norms.

“Between Schranne and Mirabell” (2008–09), a Lab Inter Arts outdoor-project within Science and Art (Salzburg), involves awareness exercises around the Mirabellplatz – Direction: Helmi Vent. Its film documentary fosters cultural exchange at the KUMASI Symposium, Kwame Nkrumah Univ., Ghana, 2009.

“Postludium – An Afterplay” (2008), led by Helmi Vent, protests the dismissal of priest Andreas M. Jakober on the steps of the Kollegienkirche (Salzburg). Featuring Stefan Ebner, Alexander Wengler, Helmi Vent, and “Sing to the Lord” screenings. Performed  on July 20, AV-recording by ORF Salzburg.

“Sing to the Lord a New Song” (2006–07), led by Helmi Vent, is a scenic-performative exploration of beliefs and scriptures in Salzburg's Kollegienkirche. Involving 17 students from Salzburg universities and priest Andreas M. Jakober, it interrogates religious traditions through Psalm 98:1.

Film chapters (Floor Gong, Chains, Buckets) from the sound-space research project “Songs of(f) Stage” (1998) are screened for Mozarteum University's new building opening on Salzburg's Mirabellplatz, Oct. 2006. Hourly screenings and discussions, moderated by Helmi Vent. Film by Jakob M. Kubizek.

“Strings in Conversation” (2006), an experimental music theatre project by Helmi Vent at Ulanbaatar's College of Music and Dance (Sept. 1–13). With Purevsuren Byambaa, it unites violin, yatga, and morin khuur students and teachers, blending Western and Mongolian musical traditions.

“Facets of Identity” (2005), a film at Salzburg's Zentrum im Berg, presents non-verbal, performative AV-documentaries from Lab Inter Arts’ archive. Recontextualized by Helmi Vent according to facets of ‘vagrant’ identities (Zygmunt Bauman) for discussion.

Based on the sound recordings of the experimental space-sound-body theatre “Songs of(f) Stage – Dedicated to Mauricio Kagel”, 1998, the “Songs” are created as part of a sound research project in a newly contectualized audio format with Helmi Vent, Michele Gaggia and Isabeella Beumer.

“Word-Sound-Body-Essays” (2002), improvised performances for the “Mensch und Musik” congress, Mozarteum University, March 7–9, with ORF Salzburg. Features instant dialogues with Mozarteum students, teachers, and soloists like Chris Amrhein and Joëlle Léandre. Concept by Helmi Vent.

“I walked along ...” (2001), a SpaceSoundBody-Theater and lecture at Frankfurt's “Music and Humanity” Symposium, inspired by Goethe. Developed with Mozarteum's TanzMusikTheater-Werkstatt composer-performers, supervised by Helmi Vent, initiated by Hans Günther Bastian.

“In Endless Halls” (2000), a SpaceSoundBody-Theatre at Frankfurt’s “Neue Musik in Szene” conference. A collaboration with Mozarteum University Salzburg, Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, and Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University. Guest: Lauren Newton (Voice Art). Direction: Helmi Vent.

“Songs of(f) Stage” (1998), a sound research and SpaceSoundBody-Theater project dedicated to Mauricio Kagel, opens the 22^nd  international Festival “Aspekte Salzburg”. Features Salzburg students, local youth, and guest vocalist Lauren Newton. Directed by Helmi Vent, with AV by Chris Amrhein.

“Will you play your hurdy-gurdy to my songs?” (1995), inspired by Winterreise, is an AV-documented performance by Mozarteum’s TanzMusikTheater-Werkstatt, led by Helmi Vent. With C. Amrhein, L. García Vázquez, S. Gerlach, B. Schönewolf, J. Vent. Shown in Melbourne (1995), Cape Town (1997).

“Opening” (1994–95), an interactive festive project at Mozarteum’s Orff Institute, Salzburg. 32 students, led by Helmi Vent, creates acoustic puzzle games on the word OPENING, inspired by John Cage. Features action and instrumental theater, vocal improv, music, language, and Cage text recitations.

“Tischreden“ (1992): Performative table scenarios explore non-verbal encounter. TanzMusikWerkstatt youth use unique body, gesture, sound. Concept, choreography: Helmi Vent, Gabriele Klein. Mozarteum, SZENE Salzburg collaboration with AV. Guest show at Bruckner Conservatory, Linz.

“The Unanswered Question” (1990): A performance inspired by Charles Ives’ 1906 music, exploring the ‘Perennial Question of Existence’. TanzMusikWerkstatt performers at Mozarteum dance and play amid coagulated sound and sand. Staged by Helmi Vent. Performed at Ruhr University Bochum Dance Festival.

“Where are you, Adam?” (1989): A performative eco-debate piece by Mozarteum’s TanzMusikWerkstatt, Salzburg. Improvised, discussed, and composed by Helmi Vent. Inspired by Kurt Marti's question on action. Guest performance in Enschede, Netherlands.

“Art is when ... ” (Kunst ist, wenn ...) (1986–87) probes art’s perception, concept, and expression. TanzMusikWerkstatt at Mozarteum, Salzburg, led by Helmi Vent.  Bach’s Badinerie in live and playback forms. Perf. with AV docum. in Salzburg (1987), guest perf. in Cologne (1987), Munich (1987).

“Please take a seat” (1983–84) explores social and cultural aspects of sitting, possessing, and occupying space. AV-documented stage performance by TanzMusikWerkstatt, Mozarteum Salzburg, directed by Helmi Vent. Performed in Salzburg (1985, 1987), Cologne (1987), Munich (1987).