Chelpa Ferro

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1995

Genres

sound art, electronic music, experimental

Instruments

unconventional instruments, invented instruments, everyday objects

Biography

Chelpa Ferro is a multimedia collective formed in Rio de Janeiro in 1995 by the artists Luiz Zerbini, Barrão, and Sergio Mekler. The group stands out for the fusion of electronic music with visual arts, using unconventional instruments and everyday objects to create sound installations, performances, and exhibitions. Chelpa Ferro's work explores the boundaries between sound and noise, exploring sound plasticity and its dynamics through sculptures, objects, and installations that challenge the public's senses.

Throughout its trajectory, the collective has presented works in various formats, including objects, installations, videos, performances, stage presentations, and records. Their performances frequently involve sound improvisation accompanied by abstract video projections, using instruments invented from household appliances and daily-use objects. The group's work has been exhibited in museums and art galleries in Brazil, Europe, and the United States, in addition to having participated in important biennials such as those of Venice, São Paulo, and Havana.

Chelpa Ferro has collaborated with various artists and projects, including soundtracks for dance and video, in addition to participations in other musicians' albums. In 1998, the group received a Special Award at the MTV Video Music Brasil for "innovation" in "Alerte Cabra da Peste". The anarchic and experimental characteristic of the trio from Rio de Janeiro has been a constant since the beginning of their activities, resulting in works that provoke estrangement and reflection on the nature of art and music.

Discography

• Chelpa Ferro (1997)
• Chelpa Ferro II (2004)
• Ruim (2015)
• Hip Hop (2021)
• Fausto Fawcett & Chelpa Ferro – Pesadelo Ambicioso (2026)