A participatory, bellow-powered instrument modeled on an exercise machine and an instrument carved out of a tree root are just two of the inventive works on show as part of The Instrument Builders Project (IBP) at NGV Studio. The National Gallery of Victoria is presenting the first Australian showing of the project, which is a collaboration between Australian and Indonesian artists and musicians that involves building, performing and exhibiting new works together over the course of a shared residency. The public are invited to visit the instrument builders, who will be working on site at NGV Studio over the course of the IBP, which runs from Saturday 1 November until Sunday 23 November. There will also be an opportunity to hear and play some of the instruments during two public programs that bookend the opening and closing of the exhibition.
Curated by Kristi Monfries and Joel Stern, the first two iterations of the IBP were held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in June 2013 and March 2014. The works created through the IBP1 and 2 range from traditional craft-based instruments to avant-garde works that draw from experimental music, sound sculpture, installation and conceptual art, and eleven works from these showingswill also be on display at NGV Studio.
Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV said, ‘The Australian incarnation of The Instrument Builder Project will be a celebration and extension of the project, exhibiting the best instruments from the first two installments in Indonesia, as well as encouraging the artists to continue experimenting and making new works here in Melbourne. It will continue to tell a story about non-traditional ways of making new music and will create a new dialogue between Indonesian and Australian musicians.’
The IBP both responds to and seeks to support the further development of collaborative work between Indonesian and Australian artists. IBP project co-curators Kristi Monfries and Joel Stern said, ‘The IBP model is an incredibly rewarding experience for everyone involved, in all its different manifestations, because there is a willingness on both sides – from the Australian artists and Indonesian artists, and from our extended ‘family’ working team – to meet each other with openness and sensitivity and with a desire to learn, share and experiment.’
The NGV Studio IBP residency artists are: Michael Candy, Dale Gorfinkel, Lintang Radittya, Andreas Siagian, Wukir Suryadi, Pia Van Gelder and Tintin Wulia. The IBP exhibiting artists are: Peter Blamey, Mas Wibowo, Michael Candy, Caitlin Franzmann, Dale Gorfinkel, Jompet Kuswidananto, Dylan Martorell, Andreas Siagian, Wukir Suryadi, Tintin Wulia and Asep Nata.
The project is complemented by two free performances by the Australian and Indonesian participants. The first, Activations and Explanations, will see works from the first two iterations of the IBP played by the artists to celebrate the launch of the exhibition on Saturday 1 November. The project will conclude on Sunday 23 November with New Noises, a performance program that will showcase the new instruments developed during the residency period.
The Instrument Builders Project is supported by Asialink Arts and Arts Victoria.
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PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Activations and Explanations
Sat 1 Nov, 2pm
Celebrate the launch of The Instrument Builders Project through a series of performances and presentations by Australian and Indonesian sound artists.
Cost Free
Venue Studio, NGV Australia
New Noises
Sun 23 Nov, 2pm
During their Creative Workshop at NGV Studio The Instrument Builders Project artists have been inventing experimental instruments. Come hear them in action.
Cost Free
Venue Studio, NGV Australia
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