About Chiara
My artistic practice merges with existence.
I work conjugating Sound, Photography, Installation and Performance.
Each one occupies a special place and corresponds to discoveries and to processes of research that occurred in different moments of life.
I attempt now within a movement of synthesis to create among them a dialogue.
Biography
I am a singer and composer and multidisciplinary artist living among Portugal, Italy and Germany.
Through my voice as singer and composer, my body as a performer and my eyes as a photographer, I try to communicate a part of my intimacy and to create a relationship with the world that surrounds me.
I believe that art lives together with life and within life it breathes and develops.
I grew up in a small village close to Torino (Italy) and since my teenager-hood nothing went in a linear way.
In 2002 I graduated at the Torino University,“Facoltà di Scienze della Formazione” in “D.A.M.S. Disciplina dell' Arte, Musica, Spettacolo”. Between 1999 and 2000 I moved to Lisbon (Portugal) with a Socrates-Erasmus grant, studying at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa in the faculty of "Science of Communication".
I stayed in Portugal for ten years before deciding to look for new experiences living in Berlin and Barcelona, travelling around the world trying to approach new geographies and cultures.
In different moments of my life I have been curious for different creative/expressive languages and I researched about them:
Image:
I went through different experiences:
-collaboration with the Director Edgar Pera approaching draw animation;
-CITEN: study of traditional animation (2002-2003).
-production assistant with Progetto Immagine (MI), during the filming of “Regina”, directed by Carlo Lizzani, (summer 2002).
-Maumaus_Visual Art School, Lisbon (2002-2004).
In Lisbon I started to experiment, sing and study music, participating in different projects of World/Fusion and Experimental/Improvisation music like Jarafa, Kimi Djabatè (Guinè Bissau, 2004-2006), Tocha Pestana, Anonima Nuvolari, Kumpania Algazarra, HeadCleaners, VGO Variable Geometry Orquestra.
I sudied voice with Maria Rosario Coelho and Lucia Lemos (regular classes), with the singer Maria Joao (workshops), and through travelling listening to new languages and sounds.
I started to research about the relation between movement and voice attending “The Voice Movement Integration Course " with Patricia Bardi. (Amsterdam, 2006)
2006 “Rencontres de Boites”: artistic residency with the french Company “Kumulus”, (Artistic Direction by Barthélémy Bompard), Palmela, Portugal.(http://www.kumulus.fr/repertoire/rencontres-de-boites/un-projet-participatif)
Inspired by the voluntary art work developed with Sofia Figueiredo and with the patients from Miguel Bombarda Psychiatric Hospital we developed “METAMORFOSES: Opera Circense Electroacustica" presented in 2007 with the participation of Simao Costa in FIAR, “International Festival of Street Art” (Palmela, Lisboa).
2007 Artistic Direction of “Agua” with Sofia Figueiredo and FIAR: a project supported by the European platform INSITU, developed with 20 children from 5 to 12 years old. “Agua” was an experience to make children aware about environmental matters through play, dance and music.
2008: first collaboration with Gruppo Ponte Radio: “Hotel Evropa” a theater/music project presented in Ramallha, Berlin, Italy.
2009: music studies at the Hot Clube Jazz School of Portugal.
I collaborate with PonteRadio in "Tilt" (2009 debut at Festival del Fumetto Komikazen, Ravenna), with the participation of the writer Tahar Lamri.
From 2010 I started living among Berlin, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
January/February 2010: participation in the Butho intensive Course with Minako Seki.
2010: Body Weather training with the company “Kosmos in Movement” (Berlin).
January 2011: I had the luck to perform with Oumou Sangarè, Leni Stern, Haira Arby, Dinamitri, Basse Kouyate, Tartit, Waflash, Najma Akhtar (www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LpUEIl1ww8) at the "Festival au Desert" in Tombouctou, Mali and with Leila Gobi in Bamako at the “Festival les voix de Bamako”.
In 2011-2012 I was a member of the artists collective Flocks & Shoals with whom I presented “Wudu Volcae”, “Studies for Solacia”, “Flocking Herding Shoaling Swarming”(Berlin).
March 2012: participation as a performer in “Auspacken” by Jung-Sun Kim, Komische Oper/UDK, Berlin (https://vimeo.com/39861938 ).
In summer 2012 I continued the collaboration with PonteRadio presenting “Tilt II” at Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona, "Arrivi e Partenze Mediterraneo" and "Blu".
2013: movement research with Jung Sun Kim: SunDay Project Intensive Workshop “LET’S BE SHARP” and “Contemporary and Old Korean Dance/Transcendent Dance Chum” at Podewil in Berlin.
Between 2013-2015 I studied voice with Schirin Zareh (Exploratorium, Berlin).
2014 Fortaleza de Sao Joao IBO, (Mozambique): I presented “RETRATOS DE UN DIA DE PESCA”, a photographic exhibition tributed to the hard work of the island's fishermen.
2015: MÀSTER in SOUND ART at the University of Barcelona.(www.ub.edu/masterartsonor/).
During this process I presented:
-February 2015 "19 Sonidos no Sonados": a multichannel installation by the students of the Master in Sound Art (University of Barcelona), curated by Barbara Held in Hangar (Sala Polivalente, Barcelona).
-March 2015 "Roraate": interpretation of the bells-concert-score by Llorenç Barber. (Sala Paraninfo,University of Barcelona).
-June 2015 Any_Way_Any_Where: concept and performance by Chiara Picotto; live music by Alessandro Olla. (Barcelona Hangar).
-June 2015 "TUS OJOS_YOUR EYES": a Sound Installation inquiring about nowadays comunication. (being part of Polisonias, Barcelona, Convento de S. Augustì)
-June 2015 Interactive Sound Installation by the students of the Master in Sound Art, University of Barcelona in Banyoles, Spain.
June 19-21 2015, Lisbon: I attend the Workshop of Real Time Composition (Composição em Tempo Real/ Intensivo de introdução) with the choreographer João Fiadeiro.
July 2015 L' Ecole des Sables/Toubab Dialaw/Senegal: participation in "The March", an international dance workshop about the dance technique of Germaine Acogny. (https://youtu.be/txfHfC9L8hY)
From September to April 2016 I worked for the elaboration, presention and discussion of FOREST_SOCIETY, my final Work for the Master in Sound Art at UB, Barcelona.
(http://forestsociety.wix.com/home)
In March/April 2016, Lisbon: I attended the course of COMPOSIÇÃO EM TEMPO REAL/Real Time Composition, with João Fiadeiro and Carolina Campos at Forum Dança.
In May-June 2016: I took part in "EX IST" by Jung Sun Kim.
Performance presented in Ufer Studios, Berlin.
In June and December 2016 I Attended the Voice & Body workshop with JORGE PARENTE in Lisbon.
On February 2017 I taught "Morning Body Warm Up" for the musicians participating in "Curso Magistral de Música de Cámara Internacional" at Teatro del Lago, Frutillar, Chile.
On March 2017 I took part in the Alexander-Technik-WeeKend-Intensiv-Workshops in Alexander-Technik-Schule Berlin with Jörg Aßhoff and Petra v. Ondarza.
On March-April 2017 I attended 3-Week Yin Yoga Challenge with Liina Tael and 1-Week BMC Morning Intensive with Nina Wehnert at Yellow Yoga, Berlin.
On July 2017 I attended two modules of
MBC Body-Mind Centering® Certification Program
Somatic Movement Education Program 2017 – 2018:
_The Organ System (15.-22.June 2017)
_Basic Neurocellular Patterns (BNP) (25.June - 2. July 2017)
in Germany with MOVEUS, directed by Jens Johannsen and Friederike Tröscher.
Moveus • NEW SME-PROGRAM starting 2017
Between the 17th July-26th August 2017 I took part to the international dance stage:
DANSES NOIRES 2017 Memoire et Evolution at Ecoles des Sable. (Senegal)
L'ECOLE DES SABLES » Danses Noires#2 – Mémoire et evolution ...
ecoledessables.org/.../danses-noires2-memoire-et-evolution-stage-d...
2017 I practice yoga with Nuno Cabral at Sadhana space, Lisbon
nuno cabral yoga meditação astrologia
26-27 March 2018 Introductory seminar at Lichtenberger Institute for Applied Voice Physiology (Germany)
.
31.05-01.06 2018 Seminar “Kehlkopf/Larynx” at Lichtenberger Institute for Applied Voice Physiology (Germany)
Lichtenberger Institut für angewandte Stimmphysiologie
lichtenberger-institut.de/
June-July 2018 research residency at Polo Cultural Gaivotas | Boavista, Lisboa.
25-28 August 2018 African Contemporary Dance Training group (Grupo de
entrenamiento en danza africana contemporanea) with Cristina Rosa (Barcelona)
8-12 October 2018 Metodo Suzuki for Actor and Dancer with Kameron Steele, at Estúdio Central of Companhia Olga Roriz, Lisbon.
28 October 2018 Watsu Workshop (6h) with Rui Granja, Estoril, Portugal.
May 2019 Photographic-Sound Installation "_FUORI è VUOTO_Ensaio para Exposição em Espaço Emprestado" (first part of the Trilogy _Impermanence_) at Espaço Emprestado, Lisboa, Portugal.
September 2019 Installation KSAM EHT (D)NI(H)EB
BE(H)IN(D) THE MASK
(second part of the Trilogy _Impermanence_) at Espaço Emprestado, Lisboa, Portugal.
October_December 2019 India-Nepal research:
_15-20 October Integral Sound Healing Course (3rd. Module) at Svaram, Auroville, India.
_Photo reportage India-Nepal.
_17-22 November-December 2019 singing study at Dhrupad Sansthang, Bhopla, India.
Tradicional African-Dance Lessons with Marisa Paulo in Lisbon.
-June 2020 Installation "MAREMOTO"
Third chapter of the Trilogy _IMPERMANENCE_
-Narrating voice for "Marco Pesca" italian version of the shadow theater show & traditional Japanese music by Beniko Tanaka.
https://benikotanaka.com/sobre/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkva5lEeXRiZHHUhhAeVJQtRdmArvCXy
September 2020 "CELESTIAL VOID" Video presented after invitation by Sound Art Master · Universitat de Barcelona in occasion of Sónar + D CCCB, 18 and 19, 2020.
https://mas.sonoscop.net/chiara-picotto/
Recordings:
_“TERIKE” Kimi Djabate (Guine Bissau)
_VGO Variable Geometry Orquestra CD:Live en Casa da música, Porto http://archive03.podomatic.com/entry/index/2008-08-22T05_30_01-07_00
_"DO WHAT YOU WILL" HeadCleaners (“Before the word was made”)
headcleaners | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New ... https://myspace.com/headcleaners
_ART JUNGLE (Featuring “Simotto”) by Stefano Calvano Jazzitalia - Artisti: Stefano Calvano www.jazzitalia.net/Artisti/stefanocalvano.asp
_LOADING “Recalling a Brief Dream” https://www.facebook.com/loadingambientproject?ref=br_tf
_TOCHA PESTANA: participation in
-“Musica Moderna” TOCHAPESTANA www.tochapestana.com/
-"TOP FLOP" https://tochapestana.bandcamp.com/track/faneca-feat-chiara
_HOTEL EVROPA com Alessandro Taddei Hotel Evropa - Astronautico project - Google Sites https://sites.google.com/site/astronauticoproject/wo/ hotel-evropa
