EXHIBITIONS & FEATURES

SEEN & HEARD

PRESS RELEASE

WHAT DOES A CELLO DO WHEN IT NO LONGER WANTS TO BE A CELLO?

Bojan Basson presents his VISUAL ACOUSTICS LAB at the 3rd “Erlebnissonntag” (Experience Sunday) in Rhineland-Palatinate, held in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Exhibition running from October 2 to October 11, 2026, featuring six other artists at Kellereistr. 10a, Neustadt/W.

Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

“What happens when acoustic thinking becomes visual?”

Artist Bojan Basson explores this question in his VISUAL ACOUSTICS LAB. Basson combines photography, digital image montage, music, surrealism, and design to create a distinctive visual language. In doing so, he detaches musical instruments – such as the violin, cello, trumpet, piano, double bass, clarinet, and timpani – from their familiar contexts, transforming them into imaginary beings and bearers of symbolism.

“My musical instruments have been stripped of their intended purpose. That is precisely where their emancipation lies.” With this thought, Basson describes his artistic philosophy. His works tell stories of loneliness, longing, new beginnings, and freedom, among other themes. In the series *Giganten der Lüfte* (Giants of the Air), musical instruments transform into peaceful, imaginary flying objects.

In other works, instruments become doorways, encounter one another, or humorously merge with surreal landscapes-ranging from earthly nature to cloud formations resembling animals.

Bojan Basson’s artistic engagement with the musical—specifically instrumental—repertoire can also be understood as a reflection of his intense childhood encounters with the evolution of the male dancer’s role. This shift—moving beyond the mere supporting function typical of traditional ballet toward more active, formative roles—represented one of the most significant artistic revolutions of the 20th century. On November 15, 1982, Basson witnessed this transformation firsthand at the Vienna State Opera, where his mother performed as the pianist in *Pierrot Lunaire* alongside Rudolf Nureyev. Similar impulses originated with Maurice Béjart—a close friend of his mother’s cousin—who developed new forms of choreographic role distribution in Brussels with his *Ballet du XXe siècle*. Until then, the prevailing maxim had been: “Ballet is a woman.” Both artists transformed the male dancer into a powerful, emancipated figure. For Basson, this form of “artistic revolution” is not merely abstract historical knowledge but a formative childhood experience. Through his mother’s close ties to this world—as a performing pianist for Nureyev and via her friendship with Béjart’s circle—this new aesthetic of equality and instrumental-musical symbiosis became an integral part of his own artistic vision.

A premiere: At the 3rd Rhineland-Palatinate “Experience Sunday”, the artist presents his work alongside six other artists (of all genders and nationalities). As the initiator of this concept, he thanks the Neustadt an der Weinstraße city management team for agreeing—for the first time—to combine a Sunday of open retail shops with an artist salon he has brought to life.

The theme is also accompanied by music: Quartetto Mirtillo performs popular excerpts from classical works—rehearsed as stylish, humorous street music for the event—with spontaneous forays into tango, swing, and folk. Adapting to the dynamic flow of the event, they will perform as a “roaming quartet” in the Art Nouveau salon at Kellereistraße 10a, 67433 Neustadt, on October 4, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Sunday, 4th October 2026 with the Quartetto Mirtillo and Jazz/Classic Streetmusic opend from 1 pm to 6 pm. Nils Ehlert as a excellent Cellist of the https://fridolin-ev.de/quartetto-mirtillo/

Rhineland-Palatinate Experience – a wonderful nouveau-building

For several years, Bojan Basson has been continuously developing his conceptual art featuring “emancipated” musical instruments. His aim is to create not mere decoration, but visual systems in which music takes on a new form—one that, for the first time, reflects everyday life.

From September 1, 2026: Member of the Bad Dürkheim Art Association https://www.kunstverein-bad-duerkheim.de/

Member of the selection jury
“Wildwuxx” exhibition – participation in the curatorial selection of works.

Freie Musik-, und Kunstschule, Landauerstr., 67433 Neustadt /Weinstraße, in the Foyer25th June 2026

Citymanagement – Office in the Shoppingmail of the City Neustadt / Weinstraße Hauptstraße

2026 – SEEN & HEARD in Media starts here.