LTMKS soundwalks, performances and workshops’ project with Lithuanian Composers’ Union starts with Gintas K, vj juodo & Simon Whetham (UK)

2018-03-19

Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association and Lithuanian Composers’ Union are inviting to a series of events, introducing Vilnius’ audiences to new sonic experiences via curated soundwalks, workshops and sound performances.

Various sonic forms related to sound excursions, acoustic ecology, acoustics, psychoacoustics, sonic sculptures, installations, conceptual art will be presented and will encourage event participants to experience sound in unexpected, authentic, personal situations. The artists from the very first event of this series – Gintas K, vj juodo and Simon Whetham – are inviting to delve into experiences of expanded sound and restricted vision. The sound performance will take place on the 27th March 2018 at Lithuanian Composers’ House (A. Mickevičiaus Str. 29, Vilnius).
Gintas K, vj juodo ‘Acousma Light’
Acousmatic music suggests such situation when the sound source is not visible to the audience. The author is not bound to follow the usual principles of notation. Since the composition does not need to be written in notes, its sound at a particular listening moment becomes a prerequisite for perception and interpretation. Back in 1955 the pioneer of concrete music (musique concrète) French composer Pierre Schaeffer began to use the term acousmatique, derived from the Greek word akousmatikoi (listeners). This word or term was used by Pythagoras for his uninitiated disciples. Historical sources indicate that in order to become initiated students, the applicants were obliged to observe the vow of silence for five years, listening to the teacher’s training from behind the curtain without seeing him.
Gintas K is a sound artist, a member of Lithuanian Composers’ Union, editor of anthology ‘Lithuanian Sound Art’ (CD, 2012). In the 90s he initiated the band ‘Modus’, which became one of the pioneers of industrial music in Lithuania. Later he got interested in performances, inspired by avant guard music and conceptual art, which were mostly focussed on sound. In the era of digital audio processing technologies, he became one of the first composers to combine various electro-acoustic music composition techniques in his musical aesthetics, a minimalist rhythmic, stylistic influences of counter culture music, and deconstructed collages of musical textures. He actively participates in experimental music festivals in Lithuania and abroad and is engaged in international performing and publishing activities.
Donatas Juodišius, known under the pseudonym of vj juodo, has been involved in activities of experimental music scene since 2000. The unique aesthetics of his digital image has quickly become a recognizable quality mark among dynamic pictorial trends of stage vj’s, due to his analog and digital video editing, expressive colour and his challenges to established standards. His live video improvisations introduce rather unpretentious interpretations of influences from experimental cinema, music videos and video art genres over conventional audio and video synchronization schemes based on logic of illustrative visualization. His tandem with Gintas K has undoubtedly become well known in the sound scene.
Simon Whetham works with sound as he enjoys the initial exploration of a location, discovering it’s characteristic and hidden sounds, and the patience this takes. Via this process he gets acquainted with many aspects of a place. It is the physical quality of sound that inspires and excites him. That it can be felt, but one is unable to touch it. In his performances, not using the position of the stage, but rather from within the audience, Simon channels recorded and live sound to various objects and surfaces around the performance space. He manually interferes with the objects resonating with these sounds, repositioning and manipulating them to change their sonic characteristics in a physical way, to create a shifting, immersive experience that will be perceived differently by every individual. Performances are unlit and it is recommended the audience close their eyes, so as not to be distracted by the action.
Simon Whetham has developed a practice of working with sonic activity as a raw material for creation. His artistic investigations have caused him to work increasingly in projects alongside more visual artists, leading his work to become more tangible. He is currently exploring ways to retain physical traces of sound and transforming energy forms. Simon has performed extensively internationally (most recently Iceland, Chile, South Korea and Bolivia); collaborated with dancers, musicians, performers, painters and video artists; given listening and field recording workshops in UK, Estonia, Colombia, Chile and Australia; has a large number of works published through many specialist record labels including Helen Scarsdale Agency, Crónica and Line; and received a large number of commissions and awards for projects and installations – most notably for curating the collaborative project ‘Active Crossover’. The most recent iteration of the project was hosted by MoKS in Mooste, Estonia and supported by the Artists International Development Grant from the British Council and Arts Council England.
Performance: 27 March 2018, 6:30 pm
Location: Lithuanian Composers’ Union, A. Mickevičiaus Str. 29, Vilnius
The event is organised by Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association in collaboration with Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
Sponsor: Lithuanian Council for Culture.
www.letmekoo.lt/sodu-4
http://www.lks.lt/