EPIC_Tom, interspecies performance (approx. 30 min), 2014-ongoing.
In collaboration with Simon Lysander Overstall
vocal recordings and motion capture data provided by Tom
—video shows an excerpt of a performance at Pixelache 2016: Interfaces for Empathy, Helsinki, Finland, September 24, with participating musicians—Erkki Joutseno on percussion, and Grisell Macdonal on standing bass.—
EPIC_Tom is a project that expands on live sound and media performance through nonhuman agency. The project was conceived and produced with Andreyev’s late dog Tom (2004-20) who provided the animated visuals and vocals for the performance. The performance is based on electroacoustic score originating from a 30 second vocalization by Tom, extended to a 30 minutes through granular synthesis techniques, generated live by Overstall, resulting in five sonic movements. These movements are accompanied by live animations of Tom with visual effects representing his canine state of mind. The idea is that the sonic score, and accompanying visuals, provide a means for participating human musicians’ to improvise along with Tom. The musicians are asked to consider what a dog is experiencing the moment just before catching a ball. Could it be proto-euphoric—eager, expectant, desirous?
* Recording of Tom’s vocals that is the basis of the score:
Production Team:
Tom: concept, actor, vocals
Julie Andreyev: theremin + visual performance
Simon Overstall: software + electro-acoustic performance
Jay White: animation of Tom
Richard Overington + Hyuma Frankowski: motion capture support
performances + exhibitions:
- 2022, May 7. performance,EPIC_Tom++, collaboration with Simon Overstall and Vancouver New Music with Adrian Avendaño, Giorgio Magnanensi, Martin Reisle, Anju Singh, and Stefan Smulovitz. Integrated Motion Studio, Emily Carr University
- 2019, Jan 9, Living Things Festival in collaboration with Interactive Art, Science and Technology, Kelowna, BC
- 2018, Jan 25. “EPIC_Tom”, performance, “Time, Light + Sound Series”, Emily Carr University, Vancouver with musicians—DB Boyko and the VOICE OVER mind Choir.
- 2017, June 7. “EPIC_Tom”, performance, “Shadbolt Seminar 2017: Arts, Criticism & the City”, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver with musicians—Andrea Terpenkas and Jim Bennett.
- 2016, Sept 24. “EPIC_Tom”, performance, Pixelache: Interfaces for Empathy, Helsinki, Finland, September 22-25, with musicians—Erkki Joutseno on percussion, and Grisell Macdonal on standing bass.
- 2016, May 25 – July 7. “EPIC_Tom”, exhibition installation curated by Brenda Cleniuk. A new commission by Neutral Ground Contemporary Art Forum, Regina.
- 2016, May 21. Performance with members of the Regina Symphony Orchestra—Simon MacDonald violin, Simon Fryer cello, Marie-Noelle Berthelet flute—curated by Brenda Cleniuk, Neutral Ground Contemporary Art Forum, Regina.
- 2014 performance with members of the Vancouver Experimental Theremin Orchestra—Wynne Palmer, Erin Brown-John, Ricarda McDonald—curated by Wynne Palmer, LocoMotoArt @ Aberthau Mansion, July 17.
- 2014 performance “Interactive Futures 2014: More-Than-Human Worlds“, Emily Carr University. Apr 24.
- 2013 performance “Beyond Human: Artist Animal Collaborations”, curated by Janey Winchell, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.
Associated publications:
Andreyev, Julie. “Dogs” (chapter). Lessons from a Multispecies Art Studio: Uncovering Ecological Understanding & Biophilia Through Creative Reciprocity. Intellect Books, 2021.
Andreyev, Julie. “Responding to Dogs.” Humanimalia: a journal of human / animal interface studies, Vol. 8, number 22, Spring 2017, DePauw University (USA). Web. http://www.depauw.edu/site/humanimalia/
Leong, Penny. “Other Beings, Julie Andreyev.” Espace 121 Animal Point of View, hiver/winter 2019, Montreal.
Supported by:
Intersections Digital Studios, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver.
VIVO Media Arts, Vancouver
Neutral Ground Contemporary Art Forum, Regina, Canada
