‘The Butterflies In My Brain’ transforms an overhead projector into a site specific, performative sound device. All sounds originate live from within and around the machine - selection, manipulation and duration of sounds are made via interaction through live drawing. This repetitive, considered visual interaction stimulates sonic variations throughout the duration of the performance, creating a live audiovisual work with clarity of concept.

The Butterflies In My Brain - Live performance/improvisation @Sonorities 02/05/2014

‘The Butterflies In My Brain’ transforms an overhead projector into a site specific, performative sound device. All sounds originate live from within and around the machine - selection, manipulation and duration of sounds are made via interaction through live drawing. This repetitive, considered visual interaction stimulates sonic variations throughout the duration of the performance, creating a live audiovisual work with clarity of concept.

This take was from a 20 minute performance at PS2 gallery, Belfast 18/06/14

The Butterflies In My Brain - Live performance/improvisation @pssquared, Belfast 18/06/14

Materials:
3 performers: similar height (Performers dressed all in black) 
3 fluorescent tube lights
3 lapel microphones (placed inside each tube light)
1 webcam
Self generating performance system

Score:
“Enter the stage of a blacked out room. Walk to your designated fluorescent tube light, facing the audience pick the light up, hold the tube light 2 inches from either end at eye level with the light facing the audience. The composer will turn all the lights on in unison - commencing the piece. Lower the light only when tired, have no expression on your face throughout the time the light is on and only look straight ahead. The performance will come to an end when the composer turns all the lights off in unison - wait until the audio stops before placing the light on the ground and leaving the stage.”

'Untitled (When)’ attempts to explore notions of vulnerability, humanity and unity through a live audio and visual composition using a specifically designed, self generating performance system to map the light of three fluorescent tube lights via sonic manipulation, ultimately using the tiredness of each performer to compose the work.

Untitled (When)

Materials:
Specifically designed, self generating performance system via Max/MSP patch Suspended MDF blackboard (6 ft x 4 ft)
1 fluorescent tube light
Chalk
1 lapel microphone (placed inside tube light)
2 contact microphones (placed on back, either side of blackboard)
1 Performer
(Black clothes, footwear - white boots. The clothing is to have a pocket at the front to hold the chalk)
Performed by myself, Helena Hamilton
Score:
“Enter the stage of a blacked out room. Walk behind the blackboard to the switch that turns on the tube light. Turn the tube light on and wait for the sound to quietly surround the room. Walk to the front of the blackboard and commence a 25 - 30 minute interaction using the chalk in your pocket and the physical self. Let the sounds dictate the mark making and effort of pushing against the blackboard. Throughout the performance concentrate on the blackboard, never turn around to face the audience. Coming to the end of the interaction, stand in the middle, directly in front of the tube light and push the blackboard as hard as you can behind the light. Hold until the sounds create feedback. When feedback is created pull the board back as far as you can and hold until you hear the granular synthesis created via the tube light slowly take over. The performer is to decide how long to hold this for. Slowly bring the black board back to its original starting position. Walk behind the blackboard to the switch controlling the light and turn it off. The granular synthesis produced from within the light will still continue to play. The performance will come to an end when the performer turns the volume down on the programme - eliminating all sounds, this is to be done when the performer sees fit.”

My aim throughout ‘But...’ was not only to exploit the sonic events created via gestural energies, but to transform human effort into a sonic and visual performance - not as a theatrical piece, but as a performed sound composition. Therefore essential to the works concept was to use minimal materials whilst performing. Other than the physical self, the performer was only to use one tool - chalk.

But..., Live Performance @Sonorities, Belfast 2015

‘The Butterflies In My Brain’ transforms an overhead projector into a site specific, performative sound device. All sounds originate live from within and around the machine - selection, manipulation and duration of sounds are made via interaction through live drawing. This repetitive, considered visual interaction stimulates sonic variations throughout the duration of the performance, creating a live audiovisual work with clarity of concept.

This live recording was from a performance at the Black Box, Belfast 06/11/14 as part of Flax Art Studios 25th anniversary symposium. 

The Butterflies In My Brain - Live Performance @FlaxArtStudios 25th Anniversary Symposium, 06/11/14

Live Recording.  All audio sourced live from within the tube lights.  Viewers gently control sound depending on where they stand and the length or time they are in front of the work. Thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for the equipment to create this work.

Untitled (With)

All sounds recorded and composed by myself.

Salt

I have just completed a 2 month art residency at Art Centre Ongoing in Tokyo, Japan.  This is the first of a number of compositions I will make from the recordings taken throughout the city of Tokyo.  This piece accompanied a visual art exhibition at Art Centre Ongoing of work made throughout my time there (Nov 30th - Dec 4th 2016).  More details here: 
http://www.helenahamilton.com/

Special thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The British Council, Art Centre Ongoing (Tokyo) and Flax Art Studios (Belfast) for making this new body of work possible.

Tokyo 001 (Order, Effect)

Visual / Sound Artist, based in Flax Art Studios, Belfast N. Ireland
Represented by The Agency Gallery, London

HelenaHamilton

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