ART meets MUSIC
Marius D. Kettler and Dolores Flores combine art and sounds to a complete work of art.

When Corona brought together the artists Marius D. Kettler and Dolores Flores were forced to close their gallery a.i.p. ("art in progress") in Ahnsen to close indefinitely, the two dealt with the situation as creatively as they usually do with their lives. Without further ado, they converted the exhibition space into a recording studio and embarked on a new music project. This they titled with the art name "Th€ UnfamiliarnAIRE$".
"We don't just play sounds, we play with the sounds". In the process, we create experimental pieces up to atonality. Sometimes we are melodic, other times a bit rocky," describes Marius D. Kettler describes their music. Dolores Flores adds: "We hover a bit between analog and digital. Marius plays drums, flute and keyboard, I sing and play bass and guitar." Together, the two set poems written by Dolores Flores to music. In this way, in the midst of the remodeling, a song about the Corona pandemic was created called "A New Tomorrow." It is one of her most melodic pieces. It begins with birdsong, soft keyboard sounds join it and are complemented by the full, warm alto voice of Dolores Flores. "On a deep gray July day, we watched a bird build its nest. That reminded us that things go on, even when everything around you looks gray," the two tell us.

Vinyl with screen printing
The plan is to release the piece, along with several others, as a CD and a vinyl record titled "Zweistromland - Zwischen Aller und Oker." The unique thing about their project is: "The record will be available in a limited edition, one-sided with a silk-screened front and in a picture case," announces Marius D. Kettler announces. If nothing comes up, the work could be released as early as the end of the year. "We are planning a benefit concert to raise funds for the restoration of a painting by Hans Nowak in the Malerhof Chapel in Voigtholz. Maybe this is the right time for a release party," the artist reflects.
For Dolores Flores and Marius D. Kettler, the linking of visual art and music is nothing unusual. On the contrary: "We have brought these two art forms together in each of our music projects so far," explains Marius D. Kettler. The two have been making music together since 1994, first under the name ARTkustik, later also as "Schlagmetall" and "QchiQ". During their performances, they sometimes transform a whole club into an exhibition space, within which they perform their music. They even exhibited their works twice at the Documenta and also performed their music.

Commuting between Berlin and Ahnsen
Marius D. Kettler and Dolores Flores commute back and forth between Berlin, where they have lived for many years, and Ahnsen. They inherited the house from their grandmother. Dolores Flores says: "She was enthusiastic about our music and art. Even before she died, we were here often and worked in this house." As long as the two artists still had their gallery a.i.p. here, they first showed their exhibitions, which they held four times a year, in their Berlin gallery and then took them to Ahnsen. At the moment, they are more often in the village than in the capital. "We feel comfortable here. We've met a lot of nice people."

Release party
If you don't want to miss the release of the CD/record "Zweistromland - Zwischen Aller und Oker" by the band "TH€ UnfamiliarnAIRE$", you can check the band's website for dates.

Photo "Marius D. Kettler and Dolores Flores Performance Ahnsen 2017_Photo Kettler&Flores": performance "Zero control" by Dolores Flores and Marius D. Kettler in the installation "Expectation and Acceptance".

Press text: Gesa Walkhoff, freelance editor & writer for Samtgemeinde Meinersen Magazine.