Sole Riot performance
This narrative piece delves into my unique recovery from brain injury. Healing myself with yoga poses, not prescribed medication. From Synaesthetic Hell to Rising from the Soles.
Filming: Ningrui Liu Audio: Pascal Marzan
Created in close collaboration with two highly regarded musicians very dear to me: award-winning Daegum virtuoso Hyelim Kim and exceptionally creative percussionist Maurizio Ravalico. In our improvisation together we resonate, move, breath and paint…
Maurizio Ravalico Photo: Chris Freeman
Hyelim Kim Photo: Chris Freeman
In its staging I make reference to the intricacies of my healing process. The traditional Bhutanese blouse refers to my daily meditation practice, which I started for healing purposes and continue to this day. Its orange colour symbolises both spirituality and empowerment to me. Performing in bare feet is essential for the yoga poses. More importantly, it is a statement to convey the power in our bodies, as my doctor told me I would never walk on bare feet again!
Embodied painting by Gwendolyn Kassenaar Photo: Chris Freeman
Whilst this piece has a narrative structure, the painting and music are entirely improvised. Colour palette, instrumentation and duration are set, everything else is unknown until it happens in the moment.
Credits
'Sole Riot' live art & music performance co-created by:
Gwendolyn Kassenaar - Live painting
Hyelim Kim - Daegum (Korean bamboo flute)
Maurizio Ravalico - Percussion
Performed at Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston, London
21st September 2025
Filming & editing - Ningrui Liu
Audio recording - Pascal Marzan
Photography - Chris Freeman
With special thanks to Tim Fletcher, Sylvia Hallett and Viv Corringham of the Mopomoso team and the Vortex Jazz Club, London.
Testimonials
'This is the stuff AI can't rob from us... Cosmic.'
Director Vortex Jazz Club
‘You started the curve of your brush with your entire body... Body, Mind and Spirit’
Andrew Styss, architect & Japanese martial arts aficionado
'Seeing the work live, I realise what a special insight it is as a viewer to see your relationship with the others in the performance space . I found myself in a gorgeous flow of watching canvas- material -hand- arm-body- then to your eyes and how they connected to the other sound artists and musicians next to you, back to their body - arms, hand, material. I've never seen anything like it, absolutely captivating.'
Educator in the Arts
'It takes you out of the ordinary'
English Literature scholar
Durational tree pose by Gwendolyn Kassenaar, left Maurizio Ravalico, right Hyelim Kim Photo: Chris Freeman