Kosugi’s “Chamber Music” Asolo, Italy

Item Details

Italy, Pari editori & Dispari, 1974

Vintage glossy gelatin silver print. SIGNED, titled, numbered and dated 7/74 by Charlotte Moorman. Stamped Pari editori & Dispari. Unknown photographer.
17 A.P./15 out of a 3 album edition- Charlotte Moorman Nam June Paik 1964-1974.
25 1/2h in x 19 5/8w (64.77h cm x 49.85w cm)

This photo shows Charlotte Moorman performing avant-garde composer Takehisa Kosugi's “Chamber Music.” This private performance occurred outside the hillside town of Asolo, Italy. Zipped into a large blue canvas bag with her cello, Moorman would execute a number of movements, at times unzipping one of the bag’s several openings to reveal different parts of her nude body and/or her cello. The concept of “chamber music” originated from the sounds produced by Moorman’s movements from within the bag, as well as the sounds of the bag's zippers opening and closing. The cello, though a key component of “Chamber Music” and of Moorman’s identity as an artist, was not played at any point in the performance. Although Nam June Paik's signature is missing from the backside of this photo, he is attributed with directing this performance. 

Charlotte Moorman (1933–1991) was a Juilliard-trained cellist, avant-garde performance artist, and longtime collaborator of Korean-American artist Nam June Paik. Moorman and Paik began their relationship after meeting at the 1964 New York Avant Garde Festival, which Moorman herself had organized. Through her performance of Fluxus compositions, Moorman forged a unique career in the gray area between composer and performer.