French cellist Clément Petit, known for releases on the Paris-based label NØ FØRMAT!, will perform alongside "expressionist" Japanese multi-instrumentalist Yasutaka Okada on Sunday, 26 April at UrBANGUILD in Kyoto.
Both artists centre their practice around string instruments, while incorporating improvisation and experimental approaches as key elements of their work. The evening will begin with a solo performance by Yasutaka Okada, whose unique approach explores the possibilities of sound, followed by Petit, whose distinctive cello playing moves fluidly between tradition and improvisation.
Bringing together artists of different backgrounds and approaches, the night will unfold as a musical dialogue where sound reshapes space, and space, in turn, guides sound. An evening that opens up the boundaries of perception.
アーティスト
Clément Petit
Clément Petit is an adventurous cellist driven by a constant search for new sounds and artistic encounters. Passionate about collaboration, he pushes the boundaries of his instrument by developing extended techniques and embracing diverse musical languages.
Raised in a multicultural Parisian banlieue, he was immersed in Afro-American, Caribbean and electronic music before moving into contemporary and improvised practices. These influences shape his distinctive voice — one that dissolves genre boundaries and allows sounds to interact freely.
As a cellist, composer and producer, Petit brings this expansive vision to all his projects, collaborating with artists such as Oumou Sangaré, Salif Keita, Angélique Kidjo, Aloe Blacc, Ben l’Oncle Soul, Blick Bassy, Msaki, Yael Naim, Piers Faccini, Mélissa Laveaux, Alani, Naïssam Jalal, Blundetto, Lo’Jo, Leïla Martial and Fidel Fourneyron.
Yasutaka Okada
Born in Kyoto in 1985, Yasutaka Okada is a multi-instrumentalist who performs and records all the sounds in his works himself (contrabass, daxophone, synthesiser, guitar, piano, and field recordings). He performed at Fuji Rock Festival '23 as a member of the piano trio "kott".
Inspired by the energy of the universe, the afterlife, synchronisation with collective and cultural consciousness, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world, Okada's compositions unfold like watching a film, inviting listeners into a deeper sensory experience—one that becomes even more immersive when the eyes are closed and a sense is momentarily suspended.
Okada also released a photobook-and-sound project through Penguinmarket Records and will present the work "Michi (路)" at FOR/M, a hub space in Kyoto’s Kitaoji area, as part of the KG＋ Satellite Festival.
UrBANGUILD has been a cornerstone of Kyoto’s underground scene since 2006. More than a conventional live house, it hosts a wide range of events across music, dance, theatre, and visual art, bringing together artists from Japan and around the world. The venue celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Designed by owner Jiro Fukunishi, a painter and designer who also performs as a classical musician and DJ, the space has evolved over time through the hands of those who work there. Run by a collective of artists and craftspeople—including musicians, dancers, painters, cooks, and carpenters—UrBANGUILD is known for its open spirit, where different forms of expression meet and new creative possibilities emerge.
About a 3-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station (Exit 6) and about a 6-minute walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station (Exit 1).
The venue is located about 100 metres south of the Kiyamachi–Sanjo intersection and about 400 metres north of the Kiyamachi–Shijo intersection. There is an ITO EN vending machine in front of the elevator. Please take the elevator to the 3rd floor.
