John Cage’s composition 4’33” (1952) is a polarising work of modern art. Inspired by Zen Buddhism, the Dada movement and Cage’s strong distaste for the ubiquitous muzak of the time, its score instructs performers not to play their instruments for the piece’s four-minute, thirty-three-second duration. Often thought of as ‘silent’, in reality, 4’33” is comprised of the unique ambient soundscape of the environment in which it’s performed, reflecting Cage’s belief that music is ever-present. Compiled by the New York-based artist Sam Vladimirsky at a moment when background sounds have never been so inescapable, this collaborative, crowdsourced performance of 4’33” features professionals, amateurs and even digital avatars from around the world putting their own spin on Cage’s infamous composition.
Director: Sam Vladimirsky
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Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes
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Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
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Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes
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Metaphysics
Simple entities in universal harmony – Leibniz’s evocative perspective on reality
4 minutes
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Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
13 minutes
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Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes
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Architecture
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
12 minutes
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Biography and memoir
The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands
29 minutes
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Art
‘If you’re creative, why can’t you create a solution?’ One artist’s imaginative activism
17 minutes