Toi Pōneke’s 2023 Sonic Artist-in-Residence BJ Leo Launches Exhibition, Breathwork
Toi Pōneke’s 2023 Sonic Artist-in-Residence BJ Leo Launches Exhibition, Breathwork
May 7th, 2024
Hā-kina, hā-puta.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Toi Pōneke Art Centre is pleased to announce Breathwork by BJ Leo (Ben Leonard). Breathwork is an exploration of the sonic properties of air, deconstructed and reimagined in three-dimensional ambisonic sound.
Breathwork is an exploration of the sonic properties of air, deconstructed and reimagined in three-dimensional ambisonic sound. It was produced as part of the 2023 Toi Pōneke Sound Artist in Residence programme. The exhibition brings together Leo’s previous work exploring sound decomposition and spatial audio with recent experiments in the sound of air currents.
Breathwork uses a combination of an 8 channel loudspeaker array and the IKO spatial audio system to achieve a unique and immersive sonic experience. This is an opportunity to see and hear this new and exciting piece of spatial audio technology in person. The exhibition will be on display from the 27 April – 17 May.
“I’m so excited for everyone to come and experience Breathwork” says Ben. “The movement of air is such an important part of our daily sonic lives, especially in Wellington. Yet for most of us we probably barely give it a second thought.”
“I wanted to make an exhibition that breaks apart and reconstructs the way air sounds, whether it’s in our breath, the wind, or in musical instruments.”
BJ Leo is a sonic artist, producer and composer from Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), now based in Te Whanganui ā Tara (Wellington). He is a recent graduate of the sonic arts programme at Te Kōkī – NZ School of Music and has previously released works on labels Related Articles (NZ), Strange Behaviour (NZ) and Finest Ego (DE).
Iko demonstration and spectral spatialization
Wednesday 8th May – 6pm – 7:30pm
Join sound artist BJ Leo (Ben Leonard) and NZSM associate professor Dugal McKinnon as they demonstrate the Iko icosahedral speaker and discuss working with spatialization and 3d audio, along with Ben’s work on spectral fission.
Dive into the world of Breathwork, an immersive audio exhibition by BJ Leo.
For more information on the 2024 Sonic Artist-in-Residence programme, please visit Toi Pōneke‘s website here. Applications are currently open until the 1st of June 2024.