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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Music & Performance

Scott Benzel Performances

  • This is a past program
  • This is a past program

(Threnody) A Beginner’s Guide to Mao Tse-tung— for 2 tape loops, dancers, cello, viola, violin, and percussion

This performance features two reel- to-reel tape machines in the center of the performance space. The tape loops are stretched between dancers costumed as the faux Maoist rebel portrayed by Sharon Tate in a 1967 issue of Esquire. The photo-essay that inspired this performance was accompanied by aphorisms from Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book and featured a scantily clad Tate surrounded by luxury goods. In Scott Benzel’s translation, each dancer employs a different appliance to maintain tape tension. The looping tapes play an electronic composition while a cellist, violist, violinist, and percussionist play both a predetermined score and improvised reactions to the loops.

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