more heat than light

more heat than light is LABOUR’s latest work, deepening their exploration of sound and ritual. Following recent pieces such as tower of silence (2024) and death levels us all (2024), this new composition approaches death not as an end, but as a passage, a transition between different states of being. The artists draw inspiration from ancient Zoroastrian death rituals, in which music and chant guide the soul’s journey beyond life.

With this project, LABOUR continues its experimentation with sound activation – a format they have developed across various contexts. This approach explores architectural space through sound, often resulting in a sonic parcours where the audience moves through a building, encountering interconnected sound events composed of both amplified and acoustic sources. For Pavillon Sicli, they will present a new composition interweaving voice, percussion, electronics and two double basses.

The site itself plays an integral role. Built between 1966 and 1970 by architect Constantin Hilberer and engineer Heinz Isler as a fire extinguisher factory, the concrete, glass and metal structure is now home to Fondation Pavillon Sicli, dedicated to the culture of the built environment. Its sweeping curves form an open acoustic landscape, where sound moves fluidly between spaces, shaping the experience of the audience.