Cities And Memory

"The Gellért Bath complex in Budapest was built between 1912 and 1918 in the Successionist style, a movement seeking to break down historical traditions of 19th century architecture and art. During the same period Lajos Kassák a Hungarian Dada/Contructivist artist wrote and published the poem Mesteremberek (Craftsmen), a poem of the collective identity of skilled or artisanal labour. "This piece is inspired by elements of the history of the Bath, Kassák's poem and an era of change in art and architecture. The reimagined piece brings together the historical presence of the Gellért Bath with Kassák's poem by utilising a sound recording from the Bath and a recital of Kassák's work. The field recording is used to provide both ambient backing and a glimpse of the original recording as a backdrop for the recital." Gellert baths ornate swimming pool room reimagined by Paul Dunham.