Oct 30, 2024

Audio Visual explorations at the AGO

November 8 and December 13, audio/visual artists and AGO staff members lead a new multimedia event series

Image courtesy of AGO

Earlier this fall, the AGO launched its first-ever live event series exclusively featuring artists from its AV team. Situated in Walker Court on Friday evenings, AV Live presents multimedia performances featuring live audiovisual sets using generative art software and stream diffusion. Free with the price of admission, this three-event series is inspired by exhibitions currently on view at the Gallery.

For each performance, artists and AGO staff members Hagop Ohannessian and Nae Phillips design and project the visual elements. In response to Sonia Boyce’s Feeling Her Way, AV Live presented Ambient Waves on October 4, featuring music by Patrick Perez. On November 8 is Lush Soundscapes; inspired by Pacita Abad and featuring music by Mix Chopin. on December 13, AV Live celebrates the upcoming exhibition The Culture with Future Underground, this time with music by Litewrks.

Ohannessian spoke to Foyer about how AV Live began, and what goes into both the design and presentation of these performances.

Foyer: What is the inception story behind this event series? How was it decided that artists from the AGO’s AV team would be featured?

Ohannessian: The inception of this event series was driven by a combination of factors. It started with an opening in the AGO’s programming schedule, which provided the perfect opportunity to spotlight internal talent from the AGO’s AV team. At the same time, the team was already collaborating on Artbash, working with TouchDesigner to create immersive visual content. This ongoing project inspired the idea to craft a unique, ambient, immersive audiovisual performance—something that isn't frequently found in Toronto's art scene.

There was a shared desire among the team to bring this kind of sensory experience to life, blending the technical expertise of the AV Team with their artistic vision. The series became a platform for AGO’s internal artists to push creative boundaries, offering something a bit different.

Image courtesy of AGO.

From a technical perspective, can you discuss what the presentation consists of? What goes into creating the performance? What is Stream Diffusion?

From a technical perspective, each Friday night features a different AV artist performing live electronic tracks using modular hardware and software. I handle the visuals, integrating audio input with my interpretation of the supporting exhibit, and blending these elements into video content. Using Stream Diffusion, the visuals are distributed across various outputs, creating an immersive experience. In TouchDesigner, this involves processing the audio data to influence the visuals in real-time.

TouchDesigner is a node-based visual programming tool that allows for real-time creation and manipulation of visuals, audio, and interactive media. It is widely used in live performances, installations, and AV experiences

What did you and the other artists consider about each of these exhibitions when developing each performance?

When developing each performance, I would say it's less of a conscious decision and more about the impressions we absorb from these exhibitions. As someone who has worked with art for years, my relationship with these works is different—I’m often exposed to them for hours at a time, so they leave subliminal marks on me. These impressions, whether subtle or unconscious, shape how I interact with my tools when creating visuals. For example, with Sonia Boyce's work, there's a certain energy that influences the visual flow, while Pacita Abad's vibrant textures inspire lush, layered soundscapes. It’s a very fluid, intuitive process where the essence of the exhibition seeps into the audiovisual performance.

Don’t miss the next two AV Live performances: Lush Soundscapes happening November 8 and Future Underground December 13. Both are live in the AGO’s Walker Court and free with the price of admission.