“Embodying classical aesthetic, music and culture, Benjamin Skepper is a musician with an extraordinary sense of the contemporary” (Rolling Stone Italy).

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Benjamin Skepper has garnered international respect as a multi-talented creator: contemporary musician, performer and composer, sound and installation artist, creative director, record label manager and avid artistic collaborator.

Hailed a child prodigy, studies in western classical music from 2 years of age saw him tour internationally by 10, performing piano concertos with full orchestra. He further developed theoretical skills with studies in violoncello, voice, ballet and harpsichord performing with symphonic and chamber orchestras Australia-wide.

In the early 2000s, Benjamin diversified his artistic practice focusing on composition, music production and sound recording, working with top record labels including Colombia Music (Japan), Avex (Japan), and hip-hop labels Tru Thoughts (UK), Big Dada and Ninja Tunes (UK). He also toured his trip-hop band around Australia, performing at major Australian music festivals. His compositional ability and passion for film and the moving image also brought him commissions for short film scores, commercials and BGM music for Qantas, ABC TV and Electrolux.

Relocating to Japan in 2007, Benjamin launched his creative production house contrapuntal, releasing three solo albums. A fourth album of field recordings is due this year, and the artist is working on a piano and electronics, and beat-makers remix album.
Japan became a launch pad for Benjamin’s career in site-specific installation, sound design, performance and creative direction. He has worked with clients in contemporary art, music, fashion, luxury and commercial industries, notably Electrolux, Yohji Yamamoto, Gucci, FIAT, Dom Pérignon, Laurent Perrier and the French Embassy. In Europe, Benjamin is lauded for his site specific installation in palaces, medieval architectural structures and art museums, including creations at Paris fashion week, 50th Anniversary for AMICA at Serbelloni Palace in Milan, the 20th Century Museum inauguration in Milan, and Dandolo Palace at the Venice Carnivale.

In the field of contemporary art, he has presented performance art works and sound installations globally, including the Museo del Novecento (Milan), as artist-in-residence at the French Embassy Tokyo’s “No Mans Land”, in a sound and noise art exhibition alongside Yoko Ono “Dirty, dirty! Sex sex!” (Tokyo), “Rooms” Japan’s International Fashion and Design Trade Fair (Tokyo), “Culture Warriors”, Australia’s first Indigenous Art Triennial at the National Gallery of Australia (Canberra), a sound piece commissioned by The Victorian Arts Centre for “Sight and Sound” exhibition, and as a featured artist at Music at Night for Napoleon: Revolution to Empire at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2012 (Melbourne).

TV appearances include iTunes Japan, MTV Italy and Australia’s “Carols By Candlelight”. He has engaged private salon performances for Austrian royalty The von Habsburgs, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Nakamatsu and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Notable artist features and editorials include Rolling Stone Italy (2011), Rolling Stone Russia (2011), AMICA magazine Italy (2012) and GQ Japan (2012). On the back of a critically acclaimed headline performance at MONA FOMA (Tasmania) festival 2013, Benjamin is headed for Russia: to shoot his inaugural music video, headline Midsummer Nights Dream Festival in Moscow and perform at the opening of the 4 Seasons Hotel in collaboration with Blancpain Haute Watches in St. Petersburg.

“Worldly, experimental and blurring the lines between visual art, music and other art forms, Benjamin Skepper’s performance at MOFO embodied the festival and the MONA brand” (ArtsHub)


URL http://www.maison-de-contrapuntal.com
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/benjaminvonskepper

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