Grego Matos : 

This art installation is based on the idea of experimenting with the landscape and has been designed with the celebration of the Freddie Mercury Memorial Day in mind on what would have been Freddie’s 60th birthday. It calls for collective participation and public involvement - not just in the perception of the artwork, but also in its construction.

The artwork consists in a basic rectangular structure of two walls, reminiscent of a passage. The sides of the walls are made of a nylon mesh to which visitors can tie ribbons of plastic material that have been prepared for this purpose. They will be the protagonists of this initiative and the artwork’s visibility will directly depend on their participation. So the more the public completes “The Passage”, the more corporeal and alive it will become. If the wind blows, these plastic elements will move with the air, thus making the piece more dynamic.

People may observe the installation both from outside and in. The intention is for the knotted plastic ribbons to create the waveform of Freddie Mercury’s voice singing a Queen’s song. At the same time, the aim is to create a quiet rhythm to make the visitor aware of the place’s nature. The lake is part of that nature and the waveform reminds us of the surrounding landscape of the mountains and their reflection in the lake. This experience invites people to slow down and to notice things with all their senses. The view through the passage towards the horizon recalls the transient nature of our presence in this world, whilst the airy frame of nylon mesh represents the underlying fragility on which life’s tapestry is woven. In Freddie Mercury’s case this tapestry was made of music and song, passion and flair.

Location: Market Place, Montreux, Switzerland.

Collaborators: Claudia Beach, Daniel Vocat & family, Anne Meyer, Susie Ward, Steve Oakwell, François Grand

Artists : Grego Matos & Matilda Valli