SIMbecile—Odyssey of the Mind Rethought

»Review«

The SIM card comes back into focus—this time not against a philosophical-existentialist backdrop, but sparked by music. And as often happens, it’s song titles or brief phrases that immediately connect me to a vision for a work, or that let my thoughts “go sledding” at first, before a visual concept emerges from these meandering journeys.

“SIMbecile” merges “SIM” (card) with Mike Batt’s song “Imbecile” from his concept album “Tarot Suite” (1979). “Imbecile” explores the figure of the holy fool—someone society perceives as an idiot who may actually possess a deeper truth or freedom. Since I really value this song in the joint recording by Mike Batt and Roger Chapman, ‘Chappo’ enters as a second musician, and through this wandering thought process, “Odyssey of the Mind” by industrial metal band Die Krupps also finds its way into the work’s development. “Odyssey of the Mind” deals with the tendency to remain trapped in self-created limitations and the possibility of achieving freedom through mental exploration.