I have fond memories of the Camden Arts Centre, having once borne witness to an exhibition at which an entire room was filled six foot deep with white balloons which visitors were permitted to wander through. It was probably called Lonely as a Cloud, or something like that. The current exhibition at the gallery is titled Strange Events Permit Themselves The Luxury of Occurring and is curated by Steven Claydon (better known to some in his musical capacity as former member of Add N to (X)). I thought I'd drag Noisy Pig along with me.

The exhibition sets out to focus on the environment in which art is displayed and it certainly achieves the aim of drawing our attention to the exhibition space since it’s basically still under construction when we visit, with pieces of what might have been art scattered about in various boxes awaiting proper presentation. Admittedly this is a preview showing, but still.

Noisy Pig with a piece by Steven Claydon

Upon meeting Bernardo Santarelli (AKA Noisy Pig), I can’t help but ask about the etymology of his chosen title. He tells me that it simply conveys his “passion for pigs,” and is something which has stuck ever since his radio show DJ days in Italy. He isn’t really into bacon though, being a vegetarian.

I discover that Bernardo studied in Rome at the Academy of Fine Arts, but he says that it sucks there. Wandering around the gallery we pass by what appears to be an oversized, squashed, pink doughnut (Franz West’s Cool Book). Bernardo is intrigued by the deceptive initial appearance of a soft texture, which he is surprised to note up close is actually cold, hard aluminium. Although it is rather cool (probably to touch as well as in appearance), we can’t really fathom in which way it resembles a book of any kind.

Franz West, Cool Book, 2007. Courtesy of Camden Arts Centre. Copyright Franz West.

Although it is kind of interesting seeing a gallery in such an industrious state rather than the usual quiet reverence under which art is served, we feel a little in the way. Leaving the gallery staff to finish setting things up for the public, we head down to the Kilburn Agricultural Market for a chat. Surrounded by the sounds of squealing sows, I sense Bernardo might feel more at ease. I mean, the despairing sound of animals innately aware of their own imminent demise has to be of comfort to anyone.

He tells me he has a song about a “snob goldfish that has ADD”. I wonder if something is lost in translation. We talk about the pink doughnut (Cool Book) a bit more, and Bernardo tells me he has a book in which he records notes, lyrics and drawings, and that lately he’s been inspired by an exhibition of Cindy Sherman’s photography in Berlin. He says he also loves DaDaism.

Bernardo in his show outfit

Since he was going to perform a show that night, I ask him how he feels about playing in London – he says he loves playing live, “especially in cities where i don't know anyone because I like to talk about really pervy and silly things”. He compares his live performance to a talk show. I get lost in thoughts of Ricki Lake explaining her latest dieting techniques to a baying drove of boars. I think the stench of livestock and straw is sending me a bit kookoo, so I excuse myself.

Find out more about Noisy Pig at www.myspace.com/noisypig