Akio Suzuki and Aki Onda to take part in Field Studies 2014 at the John Cass Faculty of Art this April

This spring’s FIELD STUDIES 2014 Spring Worskhops at the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design (London Metropolitan University) include masterclasses with sound artist, AKIO SUZUKI and electronic musician, composer and visual artist, AKI ONDA.

Tickets are still available, but applications need to be submitted by 1 April 2014.   

Monday 14 to Thursday 17 April 2014
(Venue: The Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design
London Metropolitan University
Central House
59-63 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 7PF)

Field Studies 2014 Website

A legendary Japanese sound artist, Akio Suzuki has been performing, building instruments, and presenting sound installations for nearly 40 years. His music is simple and pure, exploring how natural atmospheres and sounds can be harnessed and then set free. To experience his art is to lose oneself in the sound that surrounds us.

Akio performs on a range of unique self-made instruments including Analapos – an instrument he invented in the 1970s that creates echoes through the acoustic transmissions of a spiral cord stretched between two metal cylinders, De Koolmees – consisting of hollow glass tubes suspended over a frame, and an ancient stone flute (Iwabue) passed down through his family for many generations. Akio has collaborated with artists such as Toru Takemitsu, Takehisa Kosugi, Derek Bailey, Peter Brötzmann, Steve Lacy and John Butcher.

Aki Onda is an electronic musician, composer, and visual artist. Onda was born in Japan and currently resides in New York. He is particularly known for his Cassette Memories project – works compiled from a “sound diary” of field-recordings collected by Onda over a span of more than two decades. Onda’s musical instrument of choice is the cassette Walkman.

Not only does he capture field recordings with the Walkman, he also physically manipulates multiple Walkmans with electronics in his performances. In recent years, Onda often works in interdisciplinary fields and collaborates with filmmakers and visual artists. His on-going collaborations include “Nervous Magic Lantern” with Ken Jacobs, improv trio with Michael Snow and Alan Licht, site-specific happening with Akio Suzuki, and audio-visual installation/performance with Raha Raissnia.

APPLICATION

The fee for Field Studies is £350 for professionals and £290 for students. Scholarships are available. The course is limited to a maximum of 40 participants. To apply, please send a short statement to Joseph Kohlmaier j.kohlmaier@musarc.org. The application deadline is 1 April 2014.

Studio materials, recording equipment and lunch will be provided. You need to arrange your own travel to and from the faculty, and accommodation if you live outsideLondon.