Eindhoven Projects 1

30 June, 1 and 2 July 2006

Part One of Eindhoven Projects

Festicumex

Expressive musical art festival in and around the Van Abbemuseum

On 30 June, 1 and 2 July 2006 the Van Abbemuseum and the area around it will be dedicated to Festicumex, a three-day expressive art event with ‘cumbia experimentales’ as its central theme. This multi-media work of art in the form of a festival is an expressive and musical amalgamation of sensual madness from Argentina and the Dutch province of Brabant. Festicumex was compiled by the artist Dick Verdult from Eindhoven in association with the Van Abbemuseum, within the framework of the Eindhoven Projects. These projects are part of the museum’s policy designed to strengthen bonds with the Eindhoven region. On Friday, 30 June and Saturday, 1 July, Festicumex begins in the afternoon and continues until the wee hours. On Sunday 2 July, the event will seamlessly give way to the ‘Doe de Dommel’ event.

Outdoor Festival or Art Event?
Festicumex is a unique get-together of national and international musicians and performers. For three days they transform the museum into an experimental but accessible environment where the sounds of cumbia act as an all-encompassing, unfathomable work of art. At first glance, This festival is first and foremost about the performing and expressive arts in the finest tradition of ‘Arts Incoherents’ (incoherent arts).

Artist Dick Verdult says, ‘What we are trying to achieve is a large-scale performance that follows the idiom of a festival. Music, unexpected happenings and a three-day programme. The inside and outside of the museum stage a programme where music is the most important component. An exchange of Argentinean musicians with national ones spawn various cumbia bands. Clichés are turned around, lies are become truths and the incomprehensible is a stimulus.’

About the Musicians and the Music
To ensure the success of Festicumex as a festival, artists from all over the world have been invited to participate in the three-day performance. Participating artists ‘pulled apart’ so that they have no smoothly running repertoire of their own. The bands are put together specifically for this occasion. Each ‘band’ play for about 25 minutes., an Argentinean musician, arranger, theremin player, mastering engineer and member of Dick El Demasiado’s band. Under the direction of Manu Schaller the festival will come to life.

The Musicians at Festicumex are
Diego Seoane, guitar, violin – Christian Colangelo, guitar – Javier Martinez, sociologist and recognised DJ – Jorge Gordillo, violin – Axel Krygier, keyboard, trumpet, accordion – Pablo Antico, cumbia–villera percussion – Mariana Yegros, La Despaciada, vocals – Lukas Simonis – Peter Fengler – de Bladel Blazers – Wim Langenhof – Harun Bahasoean – and many more.