Sonic Acts Biennial 2024: Michel Waisvisz – Touched by Sound

Sonic Acts is proud to announce the start of a long-term heritage project around one of the pioneers of Amsterdam’s experimental music scene – the celebrated Dutch composer and inventor of electronic instruments Michel Waisvisz (1949–2008).

A pioneer in the international world of technological sound art and performance from the moment relevant digital technology became available, Waisvisz created instruments and software that transform bodily movements into sound. Works such as The Hands (1984), twin MIDI controllers that can be attached to the player's palms, or the Crackle Box (1974) and Crackle Synth (1974) – both pressure-sensitive, touchable devices – garnered him international acclaim. His influence only increased after becoming the artistic director of the Studio for Electro-Instrumental Music, or STEIM, in Amsterdam in the 1980s. Many of his inventions have served as models for the instruments that artists, musicians, and DJs work with today.

Based on their personal relationships with Waisvisz, contemporary artist Tarek Atoui collaborates with Kristina Andersen to reimagine the archives, translating and introducing Waisvisz's legacy to a new generation of artists. His aim is to inspire new forms of experimentation in the shape of conversations, lectures, workshops, and performances.

Instrument presentations and talks, 15:30–18:30

Boris Shershenkov, Görkem Arikan, Kristina Andersen, and Tarek Atoui

Concert, 20:30–22:30

Durational collective improvisation by Takuro Mizuta Lippit, Ji Youn Kang, Julia Giertz, and Tarek Atoui

For more information about the instrument presentations, talks, and concert please visit this link.

A project of Sonic Acts in collaboration with SoundLAB Muziekgebouw, De Appel, Bimhuis, Kentalis, Hogeschool voor Kunsten Utrecht, Rijksacademie, Het Nieuwe Instituut.