This event has now passed. For information about our current events and exhibitions, see the What's On page.
Time Loops was a temporary exhibition in the form of a performance that brings to life rarely-heard historical instruments.
Objects that would usually be protected behind thick glass and touched with gloved hands came to life through musicians’ touch and hearing to reveal themselves in very different ways. These otherwise mute objects could sing, growl, buzz and glide.
Three internationally-celebrated composers—Sarah Angliss, Gavin Bryars and Shiva Feshareki—presented new works specially devised with the ensemble Icebreaker that explore the musical possibilities of historic sound technologies such as the EMS VCS3 and VCS4 synthesizers, the Watkins Copicat, Roland Space Echo, and the DIY electronic instruments of Hugh Davies.
Taking place in our newly-redeveloped foyer, with d&b’s immersive Soundscape system, the event invited audiences to listen as well as to look as sound became an exhibit in the museum and the space itself became an instrument. The Hugh Davies instruments were built by Ian Stonehouse, James Bulley and Jake Tyler, Goldsmiths Electronic Music Studio, Steve Thomas, Daniel Jones, Malcolm Catto, or came from the composers’ personal collections.
There was an informal Q&A with the composers, and a talk on Hugh Davies by Dr James Mooney (School of Music, University of Leeds), in Pictureville Bar after the performance.
- Read about the wider Time Loops project.
- Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.