BMW Group partners the Tate Modern in London in World’s First Live Artistic Program

BMW Tate Live: Performance Room, the World’s First Live Online Performance to reach viewers worldwide

Cyberjaya, 28 February 2012 – The BMW Group and the Tate Modern in London have revealed the first five international artists that have been commissioned for the BMW Tate Live: Performance Room – a pioneering arts program of live online performances that will reach international audiences across multiple time zones.

The first of a kind arts program will feature Choreographer and dancer Jérôme Bel, artists Pablo Bronstein, Harrel Fletcher, Joan Jonas and Emily Roysdon who will each present live works for the BMW Tate Live Performance Room from the month of March to September. The performances will take place each month within the Tate Modern and will be filmed as it happens for live online broadcasts around the world. The performances will be followed with an online question and answer session with the artist or curator involved.

Introducing the world’s first program of its kind, Dr. Uwe Ellinghaus, Director Brand Steering, Brand Management BMW and Marketing Services said, “BMW and the Tate Modern is a match made in heaven. In 2012, the BMW Group will celebrate over 40 years of international cultural commitment. Announcing this extensive cooperation with Tate Modern, we at BMW give a clear signal - we will continue to engage in manifold cultural projects worldwide.”

Dr. Ellinghaus added that the transnational program that has been brought into being with this trendsetting institution proves once more that for the BMW Group, intercultural dialogue is not only desirable, but also provides the basic concept for an internationally successful company. I am personally excited that we are intensifying this dialogue in London with the BMW Tate Live and thus promoting it throughout the world.

Echoing Dr. Ellinghaus’ sentiments, Chris Dercon, Director of the Tate Modern said, “I am delighted that we will partner with BMW on this important new initiative. Not only is Tate’s program and Collection becoming increasingly international, so is our audience, and we need to work to find new ways to present our program to audiences via new channels. The development of technology has transformed people’s approach to art. Audiences today expect more interaction, participation and personalisation than ever before. The BMW Tate Live will answer this need and will bring live art performance directly to people on the web, wherever they are in the world.”

Catherine Wood, Curator, Contemporary Art and Performance of the Tate Modern, meanwhile, said, “The way in which the artists will use the format and the extent to which they will use the reciprocal capacities of technology in the BMW Tate Live: Performance Rooms will be an exciting part of the experimental nature of the series. We are keen to see how artists might experiment with the intimacy and theatricality of this space while reflecting upon how virtual communications have become an integral part of our lives today. This project will hopefully extend our idea of what an exhibition space is and can be.”

Explaining the relevance of the BMW Tate Live for audiences in Malaysia, Sashi Ambi, Corporate Communications Manager, BMW Group Malaysia said, “Cultural commitment is essential to the BMW Group. We have demonstrated this commitment here with the BMW Shorties – an original, Malaysian grown initiative to identify, cultivate and support budding talent in the Malaysian film making community as well as our support for The Steinway Malaysian Youth Piano competition. In a similar manner, the BMW Tate Live collaboration enables us to showcase our commitment to cultural initiatives on a global level.”

Ambi added that members of the public in Malaysia who would like to view the live performances were invited to enter the online Performance Room via www.tate.org.uk/bmwtatelive with performances scheduled according to the dates and time below:

Friday, 23 March, 04.00 Malaysian Time –#1: Jérôme Bel

French choreographer and dancer Jérôme Bel will inaugurate the BMW Tate Live Performance Room with a new work that is a twist on his 1997 performance Shirtology and which will emphasise and play with the Performance Room format. The work will feature one performer and a collection of T-shirts that are changed and removed to display different messages. Bel’s work explores the relationship between choreography and popular culture; and dancer and spectator, often using humour as a device to break the usual formality of a theatre setting.

Friday, 27 April, 03.00 Malaysia Time – #2: Pablo Bronstein

Argentinean born, Pablo Bronstein, uses architectural design and drawing to engage with the grandiose and imperial past of the built environment. This preoccupation with form extends into his live work, for example, for the 2006 Tate Triennial he blended the regimented patterns of baroque dance with the minimalist choreography of the 1960s. He will work with up to 10 dancers to create a baroque trompe l'œil stage set that exaggerates the perspective within the Performance Room.

Friday, 1June 03.00 Malaysia Time – #3: Emily Roysdon

American artist and writer, Emily Roysdon, explores the intersection of choreography and political action through performance, photographic installations, print making, text, video, curating and collaborating. She recently developed the concept ‘ecstatic resistance’ to address the impossible and imaginary in politics.

Friday, 29 June, 03.00 Malaysia Time – #4: Harrell Fletcher

Fletcher’s work often takes the form of socially engaged collaborative and interdisciplinary projects including, with Miranda July, Learning To Love You More, an audience participatory website where visitors responded to assignments like “make an encouraging banner” or “make a neighbourhood field recording” with uploaded photos, film and text. For BMW Tate Live he will work with local amateur performers who ordinarily would not be seen by the Performance Room’s global audience.

TBC. 03.00 Malaysia Time - #5: Joan Jonas

Since the 1960s, Jonas has been a major figure at the forefront of explorations in film and performance, transcending genres to develop an influential practice rooted in space, movement and gesture. Her early work featured herself as alter-ego, Organic Honey and she has often developed narratives based on fairytales and folklore.

Viewers and art enthusiasts will also be able to interact with the artists, curator as well as other viewers via the Tate’s social media channels - twitter.com/tate; facebook.com/tategallery; youtube.com/tate and the Twitter hashtag #BMWTateLive during the performances.