Sanctuaries Exhibition Competition

 

Call for entries to the Live Hazard Collective exhibition to happen at Rich Mix London in February 2014. Curators Guy Harries and I are aiming to have a mix of up and coming artists to be exhibited alongside more established names, in order to reflect the vibrancy of the area (East London Shoreditch) where the show is taking place. All selected artworks will be available for sale during the length of the exhibition, with no commission claim on the sale by the organisers.

Sanctuaries Exhibition and Illustrated Concert

I am curating with music professor Guy Harries this upcoming exhibition and performative illustrated concert for Rich Mix London to take place in February 2014. Supported by Diversity Art Forum, in partnership with Reportager, the Association of Illustrators and the University of East London.

 

Sonic Rituals 2 Images

These are the live drawing images I created while performing this Monday for the second instalment of Sonic Rituals.

Sonic Rituals is a live improvisation night between different musicians. A creation of Yumi Hara Cawkwell and Guy Harries, it has so far included a very diverse range of players from electronic musicians to more traditional instrumentalists. On Monday, we had Mark Hewins, Geoff Leigh and former member of Soft Machine Daevid Allen (now in Cong) come and join us.

My involvement is a visual one in that I react to the improvisation sounds by creating images that go with the moment and the music.

I am using now an IPad for these experimental nights as I feel such a device is more anchored for immediate and most effective broadcasting. I also like the IPad because it forces me to draw quite differently and not be so precious about doing nice pretty drawings- the idea of being freed in my expression of movement through the gesture of immediate mark making on a digital device is revolutionary for me. Last night I brought a clunky projector which in fact had great picture quality and everything went smoothly.

I had a good chat with the concert promoter and Jazz Servant Quarters owner (pictured above) who kindly agreed to pause for me for a portrait. All in all, it was a magical night; the music was excellent and the audience really enjoyed themselves. Feedback in my projections was really positive. There is much I want to do in terms of developing these experiments into a polished act and we will take out time and many more gigs to end up doing it.

Circus Acts Performance

Last Thursday, I took part in Circus Acts, an improvisation and collaboration  event between electronic musicians and a visual artist. I was the artist who provided the projection of images on the night.

I had made some loose preparations for the gig that was meant to be an informal experimentation among friends, with a small audience witnessing the happy incidents that sprung out of responding to each of the participants' sounds- mine were visual sounds!

The beauty of such events is that one has to be flexible and quick to adapt! I had never been to the Powerlunches venue before and had made provisions for several eventualities. Still, one has to adapt to the actual conditions- i.e the lighting making the projection yellowy meant that my colours lacked in contrast. I understood fast I had to work more in black and white or darker tones.

Another issue was the position of the screen right behind the musicians, so that might nicely crafted illustrations were not really easily read by the audience. I responded by adapting my designs to work around of and with the musicians, so that an elephant's trunk looked like it was wrapped around Luc Houtkamp's wind instrument!

After the intermission, I decided to respond more directly to the music and go more abstract and immediate. After all, I give my students that exercise and I think it is good to remind oneself of the good results that come from playing and challenging oneself every once in a while!

I ended up enrolling some members of the audience towards the end to come and stick their thumbs in the art materials. And it was good fun! I intend to develop the art band to take on bigger projects and this was a good successful first trial.

Circuit Acts at Power Lunches

I will be live drawing in the company of a group of electronic musicians tomorrow evening in Dalston. The event is an improvisation collaboration and I will be reacting live to the music using my usual iconography as well as trying new semi-abstract imagery. I have never met most the musicians and am looking forward to experimenting on the night! Below is the blurb advertising the event. Hope to see you there on the night! 

CIRCUIT ACTS
14 JUNE 8PM - POWER LUNCHES, LONDON

An evening of electronic improvisation ranging from reshaped vocalisations, homemade electronics, adapted turntables, guitar sounds you've never heard before and live drawing. Featuring the internationally renowned sax player and composer Luc Houtkamp on a special visit from Holland!

WITH:
luc houtkamp (sax, electronics) - http://www.luchoutkamp.nl/
john russell (guitar) - http://john-russell.co.uk/
sharon gal (voice, electronics) - http://www.myspace.com/sharongalmusic
graham dunning (turntables, homemade electronics) - http://grahamdunning.com/
guy harries (voice, flute, electronics) - http://www.guyharries.com/
valerie pezeron (live drawing and projections) - http://www.valeriepezeron.com/

some videos to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szwv4VptjJs&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l3bSTLfjG8
http://vimeo.com/26471106

details:
Power Lunches,446 Kingsland Road, E84AA London
14 June, 8pm, tickets £5

https://www.facebook.com/events/361233397269959/