In vitro: JJJJJerome Ellis / Maria Komarova & PPP / Jente Waerzeggers

• Jente Waerzeggers

Jente Waerzeggers is a Belgian photographer, musician and dj/radiomaker. He's an active member of Kontakt Group and Not So Difficult Magazine, part of the brand-new band Lieve Jongens with DJ Charme and ex-vocalist-guitarist of the now disbanded De Nooit Moede. His live sets re-amp collections of abandoned home recordings and sampled audio, into looped patchwork compositions for vocals and guitar.

• Maria Komarova & PPP

The duo of Pierre Pierre Pierre (aka PPP) and Maria Komarova emphasize an economy of listening and music-making, advocating for the use of simple and recycled materials. Drawing on PPP’s interest in dysfunctional electronics and situations, and Komarova’s microscopic theatre of squeaks, rattles, and crackles, the artists integrate play, failure, and joy into their research on amplification. Together, in residence at STUK, they are developing a portable multichannel setup assembled with electret microphones, amplifiers, and speakers – organic sound objects that replace the ever-present laptop and mixer. Through this process, Komarova and PPP are sculpting the spatial soundtrack for an imaginary documentary with yet unknown plot.

• JJJJJerome Ellis

JJJJJerome Ellis is an American musician and artist. The artist describes themself as “a blk disabled animal, artist, and proud stutterer.” This stuttering - or ‘dysfluency‘ - is precisely the basis for Ellis' musical improvisations. Using their own voice and various instruments such as saxophone, piano, dulcimer and electronics, Ellis creates elongated soundscapes that have a liberating, emancipating power. Ambient, jazz, spoken word, prayer, breathe and silence are signature concepts. The Guardian called their debut album The Clearing (2021) “an astonishing, must-listen project.” From the Venice Biennale, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Tate Modern: wherever JJJJJerome Ellis performs live, they leave a deep impression.

• About In vitro

Iv (In vitro*) is a project space and event series based in Brussels. It focuses on promoting contemporary music and sound art through live performances and time-based exhibitions. By cultivating new frameworks for experimental practices, it tries to nurture an artistic community that’s often overlooked in their commercial and institutional fields. In vitro seeks to create a platform for the dissemination of sound on an international scale.