ANNUAL REPORT 2015 1 / ANNUAL REPORT 2015 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 1. SONIC ACTS ACTIVITIES IN 2015 4 1.1 SONIC ACTS FESTIVAL: THE GEOLOGIC IMAGINATION 4 The Programme 4 Interviews 6 Commissioned Works and Installations 6 Performances 8 1.2 DARK ECOLOGY 10 1.3 COMMISSIONS & CO-PRODUCTIONS 13 Long Wave Synthesis 13 Barents (Mare Incognitum) 14 The Crossing 14 Nikel Materiality 14 A Script for Machine Synthesis 15 LYSN: Murmansk Spaceport 15 unearthed 15 Albedo 16 Living Land – Below as Above 16 The Proliferation of the Sun 17 Unknown 18 Objecthood #4 18 IsoScope 18 Dolmen 19 Pasvikdalen 19 1.4 DISTRIBUTION 20 Vertical Cinema 20 Other Distributed Works 22 1.5 WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES 23 1.6 OTHER ACTIVITIES 26 1.7 PUBLISHING 29 The Geologic Imagination 29 Research Series 30 Dark Ecology Field Notes 30 Vimeo 31 Festival livestream 31 2. COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY 32 3. SONIC ACTS TEAM, PARTNERS & FUNDERS IN 2015 33 3.1 SONIC ACTS 33 3.2 DARK ECOLOGY 33 4. SONIC ACTS 2015 IN NUMBERS 35 Photo cover: Vertical Cinema, Glasgow Short Film Festival, 11 Cinema, Glasgow Short Festival, Film Vertical Briggait, Photo cover: The Glasgow. Mach 2015, courtesy Glasgow Film. Carey, Eoin Photo by 2 / ANNUAL REPORT 2015 INTRODUCTION With this annual report Sonic Acts presents the results from 2015 – an intense and fruitful year for Sonic Acts, packed with activities both in the Netherlands and abroad. The activities in the first few months were largely dominated by the theme of the “Sonic Acts has been a rich biannual Sonic Acts festival edition The Geologic Imagination. This edition was very well source for intense reflection attended, with an international four-day conference, plenty of performances and concerts, workshops and masterclasses, and multiple presentations of newly commissioned works and extreme experiences. that were often connected to our Dark Ecology programme or realised in collaboration During its most recent with international partners. The topical programme featured many internationally acclaimed artists and theorists, who reflected on the challenges of the Anthropocene. editions, Sonic Acts has increased the scientific Throughout the year we also worked on our international research and commissioning programme Dark Ecology. The interest shown by international artists, curators and input and reinforced art’s theorists in participating in the (second) research journey in November 2015 was connections to society.” overwhelming. The programme in Kirkenes, Nikel and Murmansk featured a series of commissioned works, lectures, presentations and conceptual tours. – Rutger Wolfson, former director IFFR, 2015 We also organised a multitude of workshops, masterclasses and presentations throughout 2015 that contributed to the talent development of artists, makers, designers, writers and other cultural professionals. Successful collaborations include the masterclass by Graham Harman at BAK Utrecht, and the Critical Writing Workshop in collaboration with The Wire and Gonzo (Circus), which took place concurrent with the festival. The international distribution of our Vertical Cinema programme, which was initiated in 2013, continued with sold-out and critically acclaimed presentations at SXSW (US), Melbourne International Film Festival (AU), Glasgow Short Film Festival (UK), Baltā Nakts Riga (LV), and the STRP Biennial in the Netherlands. In many cases the programme was accompanied by lectures, masterclasses or workshops. In addition to this we also distributed other commissioned works internationally. Our international activities were reinforced by new collaborations with international cultural partners, among others through the European Commission funded collaborative project Changing Weathers, which aims to respond to Europe’s changing cultural landscape. The book The Geologic Imagination, which was published at the beginning of 2015, sold out quickly. Throughout the year we published many more dossiers online through our digital Research Series, consisting of interviews, essays, videos and other research- related materials. Judging from the interest, the enthusiasm and the engagement of the involved artists, participants, theorists, scientists, the audience, as well as journalists and the media attention, it seems we have struck very fertile ground with the themes ‘The Geologic Imagination’ and ‘Dark Ecology’. Sonic Acts also used 2015 to further professionalise on an organisational level, and to progress as a platform for research, commissioning, talent development and the curation of events at the intersections of art, science and technology, with a strong focus on some of the most urgent topics of our time. 3 / ANNUAL REPORT 2015 1. SONIC ACTS ACTIVITIES IN 2015 Sonic Acts aims to cover the entire cultural spectrum with its activities: from artistic and theoretical research, experimentation and talent development to production, and from presentation, the organisation of festivals and programmes and (international) distribution to critical reflection.Research activities include essential research, international exploration and residencies. Talent development and educational activities consist of masterclasses, workshops and symposiums in addition to lectures and presentations. Sonic Acts’ producing activities are aimed at realising new works of art, often through “The line-up at this year’s residencies, by young talents as well as renowned artists and often in co-production Sonic Acts is almost too good with partners from Amsterdam and (inter)national partners. Public activities comprise a Festival and an Academy, alternating biannually, where research and new works are to be true” presented. Through the small-scale series of programmes, local and international talents - Joseph Grima, Architect, writer and are presented together with established names. Printed and online publications offer reflection and deepening, and, through its international network, Sonic Acts exports and curator, 2015 distributes new works and projects abroad. 1.1 SONIC ACTS FESTIVAL: THE GEOLOGIC IMAGINATION 26 February – 1 March, Amsterdam In 2015, the sixteenth edition of the Sonic Acts Festival, The Geologic Imagination, took place in Amsterdam from Thursday 26 February, to Sunday 1 March (with an extended programme from 23 February to 12 March). Inspired by geoscience, The Geologic Imagination programme focused on Planet Earth. The fundamental basis for this was the hypothesis that we are living in the Anthropocene, a new geological epoch in which humankind has become a geological force. This edition was a great success, and attracted almost 9.300 visitors. The programme consisted of performances, installations, lectures, presentations, film screenings, master classes, workshops, commissions and a book. The large number of enthusiastic reactions from speakers, artists, public and press stress Espen Sommer Eide, A Tuned Chord is like the relevance of the festival’s theme. The festival also drew extensive media attention a Scientific Instrument Probing the Universe, before, during and after it took place, in print as well as online. A substantial part of the opening Sonic Acts Festival The Geologic programme consisted of premieres and works commissioned by Sonic Acts. Imagination, 26 February 2015, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Photo by Pieter Kers THE PROGRAMME Sonic Acts Festival 2015 was staged at different locations in Amsterdam. For this edition the daytime conference was held in Paradiso instead of de Balie (our previous conference venue) because of its larger capacity. The evening programme was at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, OT301, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, Paradiso and the Vondelkerk; the masterclasses were held in the Stedelijk Museum, Rijksakademie, A-Lab/Kulter and BAK in Utrecht (in cooperation with the exhibition The Anthropocene Observatory). Opening at Stedelijk 26 February part wild horses mane on both sides, Kith, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Schist; slowing down the time experience, opening Sonic Acts Festival The Geologic As in 2013, the opening of the festival took place in the Stedelijk Museum. The extensive Imagination, 26 February 2015, Stedelijk programme was very well attended. It included two performances of the new work Museum Amsterdam. Photo by Pieter Kers 4 / ANNUAL REPORT 2015 SONIC ACTS ACTIVITIES IN 2015 A Script for Machine Synthesis by Florian Hecker and the Iranian philosopher Reza Negarestani. To satisfy the great public interest, more performances were held on the following days. Additionally, Negarestani gave a Skype lecture, and Kurt Hentschläger’s new work Measure could be viewed. Bas van Koolwijk and Gert-Jan Prins presented new improvisational work with a laptop and drums, there were performances by Espen Sommer Eide in the entrance hall where masterpieces by Mondrian and Malevich – amongst others – were on display, and the enigmatic duo part wild horses mane on both sides were surrounded by Barnett Newman’s works including Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue during their performance. Sonic Acts at OT301 26 February OT301, Amsterdam The opening programme continued in OT301 with a packed line up of progressive electronic underground music. Compiled in collaboration with Viral Radio, this event included music and performances by Vessel, TCF, Minor Science, Killing Sound, Pedro Maia, M.E.S.H. and Karen Gwyer. Conference at Paradiso 26 February to 1 March Paradiso, Amsterdam Over a four-day period a large number of lectures and presentations were given by internationally acclaimed theorists, scientists, philosophers