Nikhil Chopra and Uriel Barthélémi's 'Embers/Braci' at Galleria Continua, San Gimignano

On May 9, 2026, artist Nikhil Chopra and drummer-composer Uriel Barthélémi presented 'EMBERS / BRACI', a three-hour performance-installation at Galleria Continua's Arco dei Becci space in San Gimignano, Italy. The performance, which runs until September 13, 2026, combines drawing and percussion, exploring themes of fire, transformation, and the relationship between sound and image. Chopra and Barthélémi first met at the 2015 Sharjah Biennial, curated by Eungie Joo, and have since collaborated extensively, including a residency at HH Art Spaces in Goa, India, and a performance at Gare du Nord. Their collaboration is characterized by spontaneity and mutual responsiveness, with the drumming influencing Chopra's drawing gestures. The title 'Embers/Braci' reflects the central motif of fire, which Chopra describes as both creative and destructive, and as a symbol of cyclical renewal. Chopra's preferred medium is charcoal, which he sees as a poetic residue of fire, embodying destruction and creation. The performance challenges contemporary culture's emphasis on speed by offering a dilated experience of time, inviting the audience to engage in empathic observation. The work also marks Chopra's return to Arco dei Becci, where he performed a 99-hour piece in 2012.