Dadsonics .: PROJECTS–current .: BODYTOK (the human instrument archive)

BODYTOK (the human instrument archive)

BODYTOK is an interactive exhibition of the 'human instrument archive', a collection of video / sound recordings of the unique sounds people can produce with their bodies – no external aids. The project began in Whanganui in 2005 when I was doing a short residency at the Uni art school. While introducing my work to students I mentioned I was hoping to do a project based around an idea of the human instrument – those idiosyncratic & personal sounds we often learn to make when we are kids and continue to make, in private, or absent-mindedly, & show off to friends & family when the occasion calls. And so I called for volunteers and from a group of around 30, 25 instant offers were recorded over the next couple of weekends. These first contributions to the archive continue to be some of the best – a tribute to inventiveness at the so-called cultural fringe. Now, 2009, and there are approximately 100 participants, with a target of 150. Each participant in Bodytok performs direct to camera against a background colour of their choice for as long as it takes to perform their sound(s). The results range from astonishing & suprising to comical & quirky, edifying & entertaining !



BODYTOK is now ready to launch as a 5 to 7 screen interactive installation.
Installation equipment involves the following:
5 - 7 x LCD screens or projections, or a combination of.
5 - 7 x LCD wall mounts (supplied) or alternatively a combination of wall mounts and free-standing stand-mounts.
A set of Mac mini computers equal to number of screen sources
5 - 7 x directional speaker systems, each related to a screen area
Bodytok high res video/sound data supplied with computers

The development of this project is assisted by James Charlton (interactive design), Wystan Curnow & Andrew Clifford (writing and curatorial advice).

Anyone interested to contribute to this project – and/or – any gallery requiring further information and/or specs re the gallery installation, pls email (see CONTACT on this site)

for BODYTOK video samplers see GALLERY