Pictorial Candi is the solo project of Candelaria Saenz Valiente, an Argentine musician and writer based in Warsaw. She is also the lead vocalist of Paristetris, a Warsaw band whose music is associated with Deerhoof, Melt-Banana, Mr. Bungle and Japanese punk.

Music

Under the Pictorial Candi name, she releases solo work alongside her activity with Paristetris. Her first solo album appears under this pseudonym. She has also made two albums with Paristetris over a three-year period and has performed with the band at Open’er Festival and Off Festival in Poland, Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, SKIFF Festival in Saint Petersburg, Villa Reykjavik in Iceland and Villa Tokyo in Japan. The band also tours Poland and performs in Germany, Brazil, Buenos Aires and the south of France.

Collaborations

Saenz Valiente performs with other musicians as well. She plays with Fred Frith in Warsaw and with Eddie Stevens, known for work with Moloko and Zero 7, at Open’er and in Warsaw.

Writing and publishing

Outside music, she writes fiction and publishes books. She is the author of the novel El Infierno de Orfeo Blaumont and the short fiction collection Huésped Huésped. She is also Literary Director of Acuático, a small Argentine publishing house.

Instruments and inventions

Her best-known invention is the Ebertonium Candelaria, an electrical polyphonic synthesizer based on tuned light bulbs.