London, UK – Art duo Gilbert & George, known for their often-challenging and deliberately provocative work, are collaborating with the Philarmonia Orchestra in a surprising turn, despite professing a past aversion to music.The collaboration, centered around a musical event on october 5th, coincides with their major retrospective exhibitions, ”Sex, Money, Race, Religion” at the Royal Festival Hall and “21st Century Pictures” at the Hayward Gallery, both in London.
The pair admitted to having limited input into the musical program, which includes pieces like Duke Ellington’s “Black, Brown and Beige” and Elgar‘s “Land of Hope and Glory,” alongside songs like “Underneath the Arches” and a medley selected by others. Gilbert & George did offer suggestions, documented in handwritten notes, including wartime classics such as “As Time Goes By” and “We’ll Meet Again,” reflecting their experiences as “war babies.” “They’re just songs that – we’re war babies remember – the first music I could hear was connected with the war,” George explained.
Beyond the orchestral event, the artists maintain a simple routine, recently shifting their preferred dining spot from Mangal II to Mangal I in Dalston, citing unwanted music at the former as the reason. “Started to have music every night and we didn’t like it,” Gilbert stated, with George adding, “Enough is enough.” Regarding the orchestra’s attempt to prove “music is NOT the enemy,” George offered a characteristically laconic response: “Whatever. Just see what happens.” The duo appear to be embracing the collaboration as a means of promoting their extensive retrospective, viewing it as an amusingly contrarian chance.
“It’s very thrilling to have a big show in a public space like this in the center of London,” George said. Gilbert concluded with a direct appeal: “Make them come. in many different ways.”
“Gilbert & George: Sex,Money,Race,Religion” runs at the Royal Festival Hall,London,on October 5th. “Gilbert & George: 21st Century Pictures” is at the Hayward Gallery, London, from October 7th to january 11th.
