As part of the programme of supporting events for Digital Arts in the Gallery: New Media Showcase Ciaran Hussey and Richard Davis will be talking about their work. Talks will take place in Catalyst Arts and are free. All are welcome to attend. For more information on the show see the Talks & Events section of our website or download the Digital Arts in the Gallery press release.

Ciaran Hussey Sat 15th October @2pm // Richard Davis Thurs 20th October @6pm

Carpet Joggers by Ciaran Hussey (2011)

Ciaran Hussey’s work revolves around the psychological effects that contemporary capitalist society has placed upon its practitioner. Through a multidisciplinary practice he draws attention to aspects that define us in an age of technological advances and uncertainty. In a world of paper-thin representations, instant gratification and blurring of reality we are left with a sense of numbified emptiness, repetitiveness, alienation and a general lack of apathy. We have developed an agitated sense of expectation, as we await some form of salvation, in the guise of commodities, services, fame and celebrity, that will deliver some solace, but instead are left with a niggling dissatisfaction and a constraining feeling of being cheated. Currently his practice involves highlighting these aspects using the medium of sound installation and playing with people’s notion of aspirational expectancy with subtle black humour.

The Singing Ukelele by Richard Davis (2011), partial installation view.

Richard Davis recently merged his background in visual art with his passion for music whilst studying a Masters in Digital Media Art at the University of Brighton. He creates interactive works, which allow the audience to participate in sonic composition, experimentation and music through sculpture, hacked instruments and found objects.

The Singing Ukelele is a modified traditional musical instrument. With no strings, the ukulele has been remade with digital technology to enable the user to perform the instrument in a new way using sensors and open source hardware. The ukelele can play five sounds, activated when the user covers the light sensors on the neck of the ukulele. Only one sound can be played at a time. The sounds are heard through the built-in speaker, earphones can also be plugged into it. Turning the dial changes the pitch of the sounds. Further possibilities include the ability to plug the guitar into effects pedals allowing for further manipulation of sound.