1st Vinyl Art Fair
Curated by Fabio Carboni and Sara Serighelli
Among the new features of this 2nd edition of the Son Biennial, the 1st Vinyl Art Fair occupies a special place. Inspired by the art book fairs that have been developing strongly in recent years - such as Offprint or Polycopies in Paris during Paris Photo, the NY Art Book Fair organized by Printed Matter in New York, or the Booklette at Vevey Images - the Vinyl Art Fair showcases a burgeoning art scene that is still not very visible.
Entirely dedicated to labels producing vinyl or cassettes by artists active in the field of contemporary art, this fair offers an insight into singular sound and publishing practices, at the crossroads of experimental music, sound art and the visual arts.
Giorno Poetry Systems (US)
Legendary label founded by poet John Giorno, a pioneer in exploring the links between poetry and experimental music. GPS Records has produced groundbreaking albums in collaboration with artists such as Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass and William Burroughs, creating a unique model of publishing that blends poetry and sound art, and has influenced generations of experimental artists.
Gelbe Musik (DE)
Founded by Ursula Block, author of the seminal work Broken Music, Gelbe Musik is both a label and a key archive for artists' records and sound art. With her curatorial vision, Ursula Block has documented and contextualized decades of experimental music created by visual artists.
The Vinyl Factory (GB)
Music and contemporary art publishing house specializing in collaborations with artists and limited editions. Known for its audacious projects with major figures such as Carsten Nicolai and Anselm Kiefer, as well as its partnerships with the Venice Biennale and Art Basel, it builds solid bridges between the worlds of contemporary art and experimental music.
Experimental Intermedia (US)
Mythical foundation created by Phill Niblock, a pillar of the experimental music scene since the 1970s. Known for its drones and minimalist compositions, often signed by visual artists, it documents performances at the crossroads of installation, sound art and concert.
Alga Marghen (IT)
Italian label specializing in the reissue and publication of archives of experimental and electronic music created by visual artists. Renowned for its rigorous documentation of the historical avant-garde, the label highlights Italian and international artists who have used sound as an artistic medium, preserving an essential part of the history of sound art.
Edition Block (DE)
German publishing house specializing in artists' books, sound art and experimental music. It produces carefully crafted limited editions documenting contemporary experimental practices, with a particular focus on visual artists exploring sound territories. It is renowned for its high-quality publications at the crossroads of conceptual art and experimental music.
Metaphon (BE)
Belgian platform dedicated to experimental music and sound art, with a particular focus on contemporary artists and composers working at the intersection of the visual and sound arts. It produces limited editions that document innovative approaches to sound creation and performance, and actively participates in the European experimental scene.
Maurizio Nannucci / Zona Archive (IT)
An archive and publishing project initiated by the renowned Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Nannucci. Zona publishes artists' records and sound works documenting experimental music since the 1960s. Nannucci's work, a cross between visual and sound art, gives rise to publications that reflect his commitment to neon installations, artists' books and sound poetry, and make a major contribution to international sound art.
Ediciones Inauditas / Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (DE / ES)
Intercultural collaboration producing artists' records and sound works from contemporary art contexts. The label focuses on experimental publications by visual artists exploring sound, often in connection with exhibitions or institutional projects, between Berlin and the Spanish experimental scene.
Blank Forms (US)
New York-based organization dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of experimental music archives. In particular, it is known for publishing rare or unpublished works by artists such as Arthur Russell and Phill Niblock, while contextualizing experimental music within major artistic and cultural currents through careful editions and publications.
Xing (IT)
Bologna-based structure active in the fields of experimental music and performance. Xing produces artists' discs documenting contemporary experimental practices, in particular those stemming from the living arts and the performative scene. It embodies the dynamism of Italian and international sound production.
Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies - Glacier Project (CH)
Academic project documenting the soundscapes of Alpine glaciers and the effects of climate change through field recordings and artistic collaborations. Combining on-site experimental work with a 3D sound laboratory, the team analyzes, recomposes and reinvents sound spaces. They produce works that fuse scientific research and artistic practice to address environmental issues through sound.
Plattfon (CH)
Swiss platform dedicated to experimental music and sound art. Specializing in publications by contemporary Swiss artists, it plays a key role in the local representation of the Alpine music scene and fosters exchanges between visual artists and experimental composers.
Physical Editions (US)
Label founded by composer and sound artist Tristan Perich, specializing in the production of music in the form of physical objects or electronic circuits. Known for pioneering works such as 1-Bit Symphony, published as an electronic device, he pushes the boundaries between music, technology and art objects, opening the way to new forms of musical experience.
