CONCERTS | VISUAL ARTS | EDUCATION | 3D-VIDEOMAPPING | AFTERPARTY

Into the Open – Music Festival takes place from January 23rd to 28th, 2024, at the Kühlhaus am Gleisdreieck in Berlin, showcasing exceptional young musicians in unique ensemble formations alongside renowned artists from diverse genres such as acting, NFT video art, dance, and electronic music. We aim to reimagine classical music in exciting settings, creating 'multimedia concert experiences' that engage all senses.

Upon entering the Kühlhaus, an exciting journey into unknown dreamscapes named ITO Experience-commences, guided by video installations, visual arts, electronic sounds, and delights from the bar. The staging of the entrance ritual is an integral part of the festival concept. The video installations in the basement are being developed by the 'digital artist' Christopher Hönninger. Through video mapping by video and light artist Francois Schwamborn, the interior of the Kühlhaus Berlin transforms each day into a unique and spectacular backdrop.

For the second Berlin edition, a total of 6 concerts will feature esteemed institutions and names such as Martina Gedeck, the Barenboim-Said Academy, the vision string quartet, and the Staatsoper Berlincollaborating with representatives from the alternative scene, including underground icon Ion Ludwig or street-style dancer Tamisha A. Guy, from New York City. This will be complemented by European influences from Lithuania, France and Georgia, along with two world premieres of compositions specially written for our festival, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of Into the Open.

Into the Open will, for the first time, commission two works to the French composer Samir Amarouch and the Chinese composer Ying Wang. 'Mouvement' by Samir Amarouch is an interdisciplinary piece for soprano saxophone, electric guitar, microtonal accordion, and 3 dancers, offering a reflection on perception, form, and time. 'Double Wings' is an audiovisual concept by Ying Wang for two identical instruments and two video projections. Additionally, in collaboration with the prominent DJ and producer Ion Ludwig and the Stegreif - Improvising Orchestra, an electroacoustic performance project inspired by the drone music of the 1950s-60s is in development.

Despite complex times, we have successfully expanded our festival. Starting next year, we will be able to present festival editions annually in Berlin, Tbilisi, Vilnius, and Strasbourg. This significant step also involved a name change: 'Ins Offene..!' became 'Into the Open.'

For further information about the festival and the program, please visit www.intotheopen.eu.

Into the Open 2023, Photo: Daniel Wetzel

François Schwamborn, Analog Shader, room installation, Staarbrücken 2016. Photo: François Schwamborn

Denis Davydov, Lola (from the series JONIM), 2022 Computer-generated image Edition of 5 + 2AP. Courtesy of the Artist

Flavio de Marco, Paesaggio (Orto botanico in Tbilisi con Tsintsadze), 2017, drawing pen on paper, cm 29.7 x 42