I went to artist duo LoVid’s performance as part of Lampo’s, Chicago non-profit that promotes experimental music and intermedia projects, performance series at the Graham Foundation last week.

LoVid, Tali Hinkis and Kyle Lapidus, were presenting two new pieces using their Sync Armonica, a handmade A/V synthesizer they made during a residency at EYE BEAM in 2005.  They use the Sync Armonica to control wave frequencies and transfer them into sound and video outputs.  The second piece I saw, used two performers’ bodies’ electrical outputs to create the sound a video.

The performers hold a wire sort of contraption and press down on a button with their hands to send their electrical waves through to the Sync Armonica.  These waves then get transferred in different parts of the synthesizer into either sound waves or video information.  The performance was long, 40 minutes, and an extremely intense viewing/listening experience.  The beginning of the performance started off slowly – the screen projected red and the sound was a rhythmic low bass tone.  As the performance went on, the sound became louder and more textured, and the video more varied in color and movement.  During the talk back, the artists explained that the performers’ bodies were contributing to the changes in sound and image – their electrical outputs were different inputs to the synthesizer.  Not only was the Sync Armonica an instrument, but the performers bodies’ were as well – their own electricity became a source for sound and images.

Bodies as instruments, or bodies as information, was the most interesting aspect of this performance to me.  What kind of information do our bodies hold?  What can they say or emit?

To check out LoVid and their other projects, click here.

To check out Lampo and their events scheduled, click here.

And, for the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, click here.