The singer Da Silva has already been to the psychiatric hospital in Bohars (Finistère). It was in December 2019 for the participatory Christmas concert that he had offered to a hundred patients and caregivers. This musical moment, organized by the mental health aid association An Avel Vor, had left a great memory in the establishment. He had also given the desire to pursue something together …
The artist, who returned to residence for a week in March 2021, immersed himself among the patients who come to meet him in small groups. The space that welcomes them has been warmly furnished and decorated in a corner of the gymnasium. A carpet, a table, a bouquet of amaryllis, a few armchairs, soft lights, plants and a microphone make up the decor.
Words, music and ceramics
With people “Prevented” approaching timidly, the artist, in a brown jacket and khaki cap, enters into conversation eye to eye. A communication bubble is created for each of them around the passions that animate it. Da Silva listens attentively, smiles generously, reflects on the subject … “I come to pick up the lyrics”, he confides. The tongues are loosened. He encourages : “These words that you are going to put down could resonate with someone else as they resonate with me…”
“Da Silva manages to capture patients, to soften them …”, comments Jean-Marc Lorans, retired psychiatric nurse, who was for a long time in charge of the pottery workshop within the hospital and returns there as a volunteer.
You slam, you flamenco…
Some then dare to take the plunge. They sit down in front of the microphone and deliver their words to him, which Da Silva records and sets to music. Thus, relates the artist, “The poignant and hopeful text of an anorexic patient” took the form of a slam and flamenco naturally imposed itself “ when a Spanish speaking gentleman introduced himself ”.
Then comes the time to write the words in oxide pencil on the ceramic tiles prepared by Jean-Marc. “These tiles will form a river of words which will find its place in the new hospital, explains this one. Et the last tile laid will bear a QR code which will refer to a playlist of music concocted by Da Silva and renewed every month! “
As for the words put down by the patients and set to music by the artist, “We are considering bringing them together in a cloud”.
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