VOSTOK Remote Islands

Inspired by Judith Schalansky’s book “Atlas of Remote Islands: 50 islands I never set foot in and never will”, the debut of the chamber improvising trio of Fie Schouten on clarinet & basset horn, Vincent Courtois on cello and Guus Janssen on piano, organ, harmonium & harpsichord reflect on these pristine and untouched areas of the earth in sublimely sophisticated conversation. Squidco

Fie Schouten: “For me the book functions as a score. The dramaturgy of the order of the chosen stories give shape to the larger arch of the performance and our CD. Because of the open form, besides the clear and strict structure as the basic to the improvisations, we gave our successive performances constant movement like the current in the ocean by inviting other artists to join. We performed until now with Henning Bolte, live drawing, scenograph/visual artist Tim Vermeulen, saxophonists Giuseppe Doronzo and Sophie Hassfurther, violinist Régis Huby and writer Adriaan van Dis (spoken voice).

Next to fascinating stories about islands far from any mainland from warm to cold areas, the book means something else to me (as to the author). It has to do with curiosity for other places, the nature and people with their cultures I do not know. And the wish to pass on my wonder and the gained insight and knowlegde about the intrinsic value of these places and their inhabitants (people, animals, plants) while feelings of colonialism or desire to own or even physically visit are absent.
It can be interpretated as an abstract invitation through the artform music to have more respect to our close surroundings and far away environment.”