Working on a Building
2012
Custom built speakers, concrete, four channel audio equipment. Dimensions variable.
Four speakers sit in different relations to four concrete cubes. The spatial configuration of the speakers changes with every instalation and is dependent on the space exhibited in.
The audio component of the installation takes as its basis the melody from the gospel song ‘Working on a Building’. This melody is deconstructed and abstracted due to it being performed as a scat in the Jazz style. Each of the four speakers corresponds to one of the four parts of a gospel vocal arrangement in close harmony. The lead, tenor, baritone and bass voices constantly construct and de-construct the harmony as they scat the melody, sometimes in opposition, sometimes in unison.
Audio here. (Please note, this is a mono recording of what is normally a four channel audio mix).
TRUMPET
2012
Framed digital photograph on archival paper, 100x70cm
A found box depicting only the word TRUMPET is photographed, again furthering the representation and thus abstraction of the word and object ‘trumpet’.
Blue Yodel #5 (Unused wall, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona)
2012
Framed cyanotype photograph, 50x65cm.
An unused free-standing museum wall with viewing bench is photographed and rendered using the cyanotype process.
This work forms part of the ongoing Blue Yodel series, more information about this series can be found here.
Exile (after Schwitters)
2012
Polished granite, custom built speaker, sound equipment, 50x35x22cm
A mirror polished, wedge shaped, piece of black granite props up a speaker at an angle. The speaker periodically an edited version of Kurt Schwitters’ sound poem Ursonate, whereby all the vocalisations have been removed, leaving only background static and the various shuffles of Schwitters himself.
Audio here.
Transfer Characteristics
2012
Magnetite, magnetic tape, iron filings.
A large specimen of magnetite - a mineral with naturally occurring magnetic properties - is placed atop a roll of magnetic audio tape. Although used, the contents of the tape are unknown.
Blue Yodel #7(Rodgers/Schwitters)
2012
Offset prints on paper, 60x80cm
A digitally collaged image featuring depression-era country singer Jimmie Rodgers and avant-garde artist and dadaist, Kurt Schwitters, is presented as a poster pile, from which the viewer is free to take a copy.
This work was originally designed for a preview publication intended to announce an exhibition containing the work Blue Yodel #4.
This work forms part of the ongoing Blue Yodel series, more information about this series can be found here.
Blue Yodel #4
a. Zang Tumb Tumb…
b. Gadji Beri Bimba…
c. Bel Au Hau…
2012
Three cyanotype photographs, 20x20cm (framed: 50x50cm)
Found rocks displaying geological as well as emergant geometric properties are photographed and rendered using the cyanotype process. Though collectivley one work, each of the individual photographs take their names from the first lines of promenant Dada sound poetry.
This work forms part of the ongoing Blue Yodel series, more information about this series can be found here.
Blue Yodel #5 (Holmes/Watson)
2012
Performance lecture
Text sampled from the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle is coupled with images mostly pertaining to the minimalists of the 1960s and 70s. Though the text is lifted from statements by both Holmes and Watson, the plurality has been edited to form a singular schizophrenic monologue.
Video here.
A PDF of the lecture notes and images can be downloaded here.
This work forms part of the ongoing Blue Yodel series, more information about this series can be found here.
Translation in B-flat
2011
Durational performance
Produced in collaboration with Koen Sels.
A prepared text is read out by its author and translated directly into music by a violin player, thus stripping away any linguistic value, leaving only melody and rhythm.
A PDF of the text can be downloaded here.
Installation views: How to Stay Awake, Novylon, Antwerp.
