www.simonwhetham.co.uk
"Channelling" Projects - developments and experiments with repurposed devices and video in live presentation
"...Whetham pipes found sounds and field recordings through an orchestra of motors salvaged from discarded electronic devices. The result is unexpectedly musical and immersive, helped by a live video feed that makes the audience feel like a part of Whetham's miniature machine world."
Antonio Poscic, The Wire Magazine, June 2023
Channelling is a kinetic audiovisual project, in which a collection of motor devices salvaged from obsolete and discarded consumer technology is reanimated by environmental sound recordings. In turn, this produces new sounds from the devices, which are amplified using various microphones and techniques.
The recordings feature seemingly mundane sound phenomena that occur unpredictably and irregularly in everyday life – passing traffic, wind, doors closing – and also sounds of other machines malfunctioning. Because of this, the movement of the devices is random, variable, and autonomous. This means the relationship between performer and devices is a collaboration rather than a master and servant type situation.
The most recent iteration, Channelling Reduction, follows the trend of technology to miniaturise as it evolves, becoming smaller and lighter, but more powerful.
The project Channelling has been in development since the early days of lockdowns and confinement (as Double Deck); and through subsequent residencies and opportunities to explore what is possible. ChannellingAV was a direct evolution as it became clear that some visual aid or accompaniment to the performance was required, especially in larger venues and events. Successive Actions came from also recycling sounds generated in the previous versions, playing them back through new additions to the device collection.
The idea to perform with salvaged motor devices came from previous installation and sculptural projects using these materials, as well as feeling the need to change my approach to performance. Through presenting the work as it progressed, it became clear that audiences were increasingly intrigued as to what was happening, what they were hearing and what I do during a show.
I previously worked against showing everything that is happening, almost forcing people to only listen by strongly suggesting they close their eyes, but I know from working with these characters, that they are very intriguing in their movements and actions, and they deserve to be seen.
Channelling has been presented in various versions at: Noise Istanbul (TR); WIP Cyens Festival (CY); Intermediale (PL); Sofia Underground (BG); WeSA Festival (KR); New Adits (AT); Simultan (RO); Sonica (SI); MA/IN Festival (IT); 28.MFRU (SI); Izis Festival (SI); phono~festival (CZ) and NEXT Festival (SK).
Below left is a link to the streamed performance from Tresor Linz that featured on Dorf TV, and right is a gallery of photos from the various events by Verena Mayrhofer (Linz), Jan Kruml (Pardubice) and Laszlo Juhasz (Ljubljana).
Describe your image
Describe your image
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In addition to the various live presentations, the project has also resulted in two albums of compositions drawn and recomposed from recordings of various devices, actions and setups. The most recent is Successive Actions, released in late 2024 by Crónica, and Channelling, released in early 2024 by Flag Day Recordings.
Earlier developments:
June 2022, 26th - presentation at Liebig12, Berlin, Germany for the Zero Cohesion series run by artist-in-residence Jeff Surak.
This development was the first to feature live projection, using two cheap and adapted webcams to show the audience more of what happens during the presentation, projected live as a diptych. This presentation only received positive comments and responses, whereas for previous shows using video there had been very mixed views and opinions.
May 2022, 28th - presentation at 2220Arts+Archives, Los Angeles, USA alongside pinkcourtesyphone (Richard Chartier) and Marlo de Lara who sadly could not be present.
For this show I made a new version of the pre-recorded and edited video with macro footage of the devices used in the setup. This show definitely received very mixed responses, with some valid points and observations.
The sound action was slightly delayed from the video starting so each scene change was acting like a visual clue for what was to come... It definitely made me reconsider using pre-recorded footage, but it was good to start this way.
April 2022, 15th - Château Éphémère, France.
The first presentation of the AV version of Channelling, prepared in only a few days within the first week of the short residency at Château Éphémère.
The pre-recorded and edited video featured macro shots of each device or combination to reflect the scaling up and amplification of the tiny and often delicate sounds generated by the devices.
The response was good but even with this stage I had a few people ask why it was not live and even give some (quite expensive!) suggestions regarding how to project a live feed.
Interestingly, even though the sounds can be quite irritating and very mechanical, audiences clearly enjoy watching and listening to the presentation.
