Mime Radio; a novel, an exhibition and a performance by Benjamin Seror [fr]

Benjamin Seror, Mime Radio, 2014. Artist’s book; ink and paper. Courtesy the Artist and Bat Editions, Paris / Brussels

Mime Radio is a novel that was written orally by Benjamin Seror at a series of events in several cities across Europe and the Americas over the past two years. The story revolves around a cast of eccentric characters, who meet at the Tiki Coco, a bar in Los Angeles that holds “Challenging Reality Open Mic” nights for amateur inventors and performers. Eventually, the protagonists get caught up in trying to help Marsyas, a character from ancient Greek mythology, who lost his voice after being defeated in a music contest against the god Apollo. Unbeknownst to them, this recovery unleashes a disaster… Mime Radio is an example of the ways that language and perception can be one and the same.

Benjamin Seror performing Mime Radio at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 2014

Each live chapter performance from the novel made use of props, models, costumes, music and sound effects. The exhibition of Mime Radio presents all the models employed as part of these performances such as a pair of non-functioning thought transmitters, an invitation to move into the house of the Amateurs Engineer’s League in the shape of the house itself or a model of Benjamin’s dream from chapter seven. Their accompanying series of notes draws a perceptual landscape of the story.

Performance

On October 8, Benjamin Seror performed a chapter from Mime Radio; starting with storytelling in 221A’s gallery, continuing across the street at Brixton Caffé for a musical ending and a drink.

221A
221 E Georgia St
Outdoor Site: 271 Union St
Tues–Fri 10am–5pm
Sat 12–5pm
Free and Open to Public