The Sound of Failure 2008 – Sound art festival
Following on from the (ironic) success of last year’s festival, Sound of Failure 2008 brings together over forty local and international sound artists in numerous venues to surprise, shock and entertain. Many of these artists have attempted to transcend the small rectangular screens and the latest Microsoft releases, opting instead to look at unintended consequences of technology – when it misbehaves or just gives up the ghost.
Internationally renowned torturers of electronic toys, Toydeath, will unleash their circuit bent mayhem on the Factory Theatre along with 15 other acts that include everything from the humorous (Starella, for instance, juxtaposes ‘instruments’ such as ‘old wine bottles’ with digital technology and lyrics written on the backs of beer coasters) to the literal (Tom Hall, a renowned sound artist from Brisbane, uses the degenerate sounds formed from the destruction of flimsy CD media combined with the glitch/skip/malfunction from ageing and damaged CD players). Throw in the burlesque cabaret of Dianne’s Dollhouse, the endurance karaoke of Samuel Bruce and the uninhibited, primordial yowls of Lecter Macabre & Triangle, and you have an unmissable show with something for everyone!
Book now for August 30 at http://factorytheatre.com.au
Exhibition wise, Chrissie Cotter gallery in Camperdown will host a diverse range of audio, and audio-visual installations from over a dozen artists. US based sound experimenter, Subscape Annex, has used the potentially explosive technique of combining electricity and water in a work that involves sound from dripping water across the contact of an instrument cable jack. The result ‘The Water Method’ is a sublime ambient work that is hypnotically compelling. Norie Neumark and Maria Miranda dissect and interrogate the iconic Aussie cop drama, ‘Homicide’ (said to be the most important and most popular television drama series ever produced in the country) in ‘Homicide Rumours’. Like old episodes of Doctor Who, these Homicide mashups conjure sensations of familiarity and sentimentality, as well as disappointment and even embarrassment. Our memories live in the original – past – moment; our hazy dream is shattered by the harsh reality of the now.
You can also find sound art hiding between the junk in Reverse Garbage, and Wade Marynowski’s solo exhibition, ‘Rococo Vortex’, in the aptly titled Don’t Look Gallery, as well as a spellbinding performance, ‘Question/Answer… Interruption’ at the snazzy new UTS performance space.
Please see http://SoundOfFailure.com for a complete list of venues and details.
Main performance night: Factory Theatre, Enmore 105 Victoria Rd, Enmore, Sydney, NSW August 30, 7pm $20 (+booking fee) Book NOW at: http://factorytheatre.com.au
Main exhibition opening: Chrissie Cotter Gallery Pidcock St, Camperdown, Sydney August 19, 6pm (FREE)