Cory Champion creates ‘a field of cymbals’ at the Toi Pōneke Gallery
The 2018/19 Toi Pōneke – NZSM Sound Artist in Residence invites people to play his drum set as part of his Time/Tone exhibition in January.
Composer and performer Cory Champion works with the recording and amplification of percussion instruments to create fluid soundscapes, exploiting blurred textures between acoustic and synthesised sources.
Methodically recording the sounds of cymbals, drums and drum machines in his studio space, Champion constructs richly textural arrangements of sound, highlighting micro-spaces within the instruments. He describes his process of composition as akin to carving a sculpture – starting with the raw, mass material, then reducing and shaping it, to create an aural form.
This soundscape plays in the gallery space alongside the sculptural works; drums and cymbals are amplified and placed in particular gallery locations, with the invitation to be played. When they are struck, the action both emits acoustic sound and control data to modulate the immersive, harmonic and lucid soundscape experienced in the space.
Cory Champion is the 2018/19 Toi Pōneke – New Zealand School of Music Sound Artist in Residence.
Champion is a graduate of New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōki and works as a composer and performer. He also performs as borrowed cs, writing and producing his own electronic music.
Exhibition dates: Friday 11 January - 2 February 2019
Live Performance: 5:30pm Thursday 31 January
Artist Talk: 1pm Friday 1 February
Toi Pōneke Art Gallery, 61 Abel Smith St, Te Aro Wellington
10am – 8pm weekdays 10 – 4pm weekends
toiponeke.nz