Section: New York – A Preview Workshop of Splitting/Absence
When: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
Where: The Clemente, 107 Suffolk Street, New York, NY, 10002
Artists: Composed by Sokio | Words by Natasha Tiniacos
As part of the Historias initiative, The Clemente Center and New Latin Wave present Section: New York, a preview workshop of Sokio’s opera Splitting/Absence, in development with National Sawdust. This multi-phase operatic work explores the life and legacy of 1970s artist Gordon Matta-Clark, whose radical interventions redefined urban spaces. Each chapter of the opera is supported by a different commissioner, with Historias commissioning the New York chapter.
Composed by Sokio, with words by Natasha Tiniacos, Splitting/Absence blends electronic and classical elements to create an immersive operatic experience—bringing Matta-Clark’s transformative vision to life through music, architecture, and storytelling. The opera offers a deeper exploration of Matta-Clark’s impact on contemporary art and urbanism.
Artist Bio:
Sokio Díaz Gallardo (Chile, b. 1973) is a composer, producer, music supervisor, and cultural organizer. He leads the performance of his opera Splitting/Absence and is the director and co-founder of New Latin Wave and a member of the LxNY consortium—both initiatives dedicated to amplifying Latinx voices in arts and culture.
Known for his innovative fusion of electronic and classical music, Sokio explores themes of space, transformation, and urban landscapes through operatic storytelling. Based in New York’s Lower East Side, he continues to push creative boundaries across multiple disciplines.
His latest works include: the chamber opera Paraíso which premiered on June 16, 2023, at National Sawdust; his role as music supervisor for Sebastián Díaz’s documentary A Thousand Pines; and his work as a curator, co-creating the series “Futuros, New Ideas in Composition” at Lincoln Center with Amanda Riesman.
Further details, including the full list of participants, will be announced soon.
This event forms part of Carnegie Hall’s Nuestros Sonidos festival.
Presented by The Clemente Center and New Latin Wave as part of the Historias initiative
Stay Connected
For more information or to express interest in attending, please reach out to rsvp@theclementecenter.org. Details on RSVP and ticketing will be announced soon.