Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University for the Creative Arts
A duet (virtually), musical improvisation with live sonic processes
My practice-based research explores language and related issues of place and identity, such as personal cultural borders and digital-human relationships on the edges of language. With A duo and A duet (virtually) I attempt to push further the interplay between the virtual and the real, and between the visual and sonic representations of my voice.
In 2002 I created a unique vocal and visual instrument that I call VINST3, which responds not only to touch but to mood and sensibility. It consists of my body-image displaying points of sonic sensitivity. The sounds are pre- or non-linguistic, and are based on how the body reacts to touch and how it produces sound. It was inspired by Antonin Artaud’s, and Deleuze’s and Guattari’s notions of a body without organs. I use live, customised software designed by Sebastian Lexer to engender a reciprocal influencing of sonic production through my voice and its visual representation.
A duo and A duet (virtually) make up a series of live improvised non-verbal dialogues and monologues between my voice and its avatar (VINST3 played by guest musicians). These pieces represent a significant development from my earlier works with VINST3, which were simply interactive installations where people could play with/listen to the instrument. The current works take an entirely different form, as a series of experimental musical performances presented on stage.
What is new with these works is the fact that it has become impossible to tell apart what is produced by the real or the virtual organ: the two come together as one seamless yet polyphonic and enhanced voice, thus bridging for a moment the gap between real and virtual worlds.
