"I arrived to Plasy to build a set of instruments which could function both visually and acoustically. The Baroque, as the theme for this year's symposium, provided the perfect platform to develop a construction of acoustical string instruments, which  also had certain visual qualities. The materials used and the found objects used to construct them (farming tools, bottles, coal and wood) created an assemblage of artifacts, reflecting the life of the surrounding area. My performance in St. Bernard chapel, to which I invited Jaroslav Kořán (Orloj Snivců), combined the traditional music style of African mbiras (which I had built) with other experimental instruments made in Plasy. The music sought to explore the acoustic resonance of the room, seeking a dialogue between the direct sound of the instruments with the harmonic overtones of the chapel. I engaged as well with several other explorations of my instruments, including a puppet theater performance of Petr Nikl, impro with Peter Jacquemyn, and a dance performance choreographed by Eva Carrozza."

Michael Delia, 1993

Michael Delia (born 1963, USA) in an artist, musician and instrument builder who lives and works in New Jersey. His work spans a wide range of disciplines and media, encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, sound and music performance. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Moravian College in 1985 and an MFA degree in Sculpture from the School of Visual Arts (S.V.A.) in 1987. Delia’a work has been presented in various American and European venues; Experimental Intermedia, The Knitting Factory, Exit Art, Threadwaxing space, Czech Center NY, Galerie Kastrich in Mainz, Germany, CCNOA in Brussels, Belgium, Stighting Logos in Gent, Belgium, Het Apollohuis in Eindhoven, Holland, Hermit symposium in Plasy, Czech Republic, Sound Off exhibition and The Rosenberg Museum in Samorin, Slovakia, Galerie Manes, Galerie Skolska, Respect Festival and Galerie Rudolfinum in Prague, Czech Republic, Stazione di Topolo and Arte Sella in Italy and Mamu Galerie in Budapest, Hungary. He has performed and collaborated with numerous artists/musicians/choreographers: Anna Homler, Jaroslav and Michal Kořán, Rajesh Meta, Martin Janiček, Ondřej Smeykal, Petr Nikl, Miloš Vojtěchovský, Martin Alacam, Hearn Gadbois, Jennifer de Felice, Angelica Castello, Antonio della Marina, Alessandra Zucchi, Al Margolis, Phill Niblock, Katherine Liberovskaya, Sofia Bustorff, Jozef Czeres, Zsolt Sores, Jon Rose, Irena and Vojtěch Havlovi, and choreographers Sally Gross, Gaby Glinz, and Lucienne Vidah.

Michael Delia came for the first Hermit symposium in 1992, attended events in the following years, and continues to collaborate with a number of Czech and international artists.