Yum Cha Chats: Locked Groove guides us through the Fluxus Art Movement

Berlin-based Belgian producer Locked Groove is one of those artists, as his namesake hints, who is synonymous with gem-like quality when it comes to an uncompromising sound of house and techno.

Prior to his 2018 debut album ‘Sunset Service’ on Hotflush Recordings, releases on Life and Death, Permanent Vacation, Afterlife, his eponymous label Locked Groove Records and Speicher were received with high acclaim. On top of his notably busy studio routine, Locked Groove has also been involved in unique sound design projects as well as a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winnerIan Urbina for a soundtrack inspired by Urbina’s book ‘The Outlaw Ocean’.

As a follow up to his 2021 ‘Valencia’ EP release on Dark Entries, ‘Nautiluss’ EP has been warmly received around the world, just got a fine Bézier treatment on the lead track with an infectious retro feeling and a toughened up bassline. Have a listen to the new remix here, which features artwork by Ollie George.

Today, he steps out of his musical box to share his thoughts an a highly inspirational and influential period from the 20th century that has helped shape his abilities in and out of creative comfort zones. Today, we take a retrospective trip back to a an earlier future of the Fluxus Art Movement, a post-Dada-era movement that was introduced to us by George Maciunas. An early quote from the founder about Fluxus’ raison d’etre was to ‘promote a revolutionary flood and tide in art, promote living art, anti-art'.

Fluxus gained motion in the late 1950s and grew in the 60s and 70s as a community-based voice for anti-elitist artists, architects and creatives in general — art should be accessible, for all and not for a reserved few. Locked Groove tells Mixmag Asia what it means to him — “Fluxus means freedom. It was an interdisciplinary form of art that existed in the 60’s and 70’s that included music, performances, paintings etc. The fact that all these were combined in one collection of artists is something I find very interesting.”

To keep your minds awake, fascinated and inspired, we asked Locked Groove to share his favourite works from the transformational era known as the Fluxus Art Movement.

This piece is a very special one. I heard it when still working in the record shop Wally's Groove World years ago. My boss at the time owned it and ever since I've been obsessed with it. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago it finally found its way into my collection through a gift by a dear friend.

A record I will never part with and will always go back to.

Possibly one of the more famous Fluxus artists for some people. This piece highlights the absurdity of the Fluxus movement. Essentially it's just Joseph Beuys saying ja ja ja ne ne ne over and over again for an hour.

I love it because of Its simplicity and humour.

A self portrait of Dieter Roth, he also made some rather spectacular music and music installations but this one appeals to me in particular. It's a rather simple self portrait sculpture but yet it holds something so primal and pure I can’t take my eyes off it.

This is also a piece I would one day like to own. One can dream.

This piece radiates warmth and rest for me. It reminds me of the work of Lucio Fontana in some ways but more intricate.

I'm a sucker for geometrical and/or repeating patterns in art and this is one is no exception. Should you feel inclined to purchase a similar piece like this they are offered for sale pretty frequently at somewhat affordable prices.

One of the lesser known artists from the Fluxus movement. But a very good one nonetheless in my opinion.

A beautiful surrealist lithograph that echoes Rene Margritte. Something I would hang on my wall in an instant should I get the opportunity.