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Making Art for the End of the World

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This interview is the second in a series exploring the the creative process behind sound art – a relatively new and eclectic niche in the art world where music, noise, visual art and technology blend in mind-bending ways.

Aloïs Yang is a sound artist, designer and electronic musician who produces work that explores the relation and interaction between people, sound, and the external world. His work is influenced both by scientific reference and the imperfection in humans’ understanding of nature.

Alois most recently presented his works Micro Realities at Stour Space London, and Hear The World Ending at Stockholm National Museum’s Domestic Futures exhibition as well as London’s own Music Hackspace. This is a sound installation made according to the orbits’ timeframe, with its musical content only being complete at the exact moment an asteroid might impact earth – or, to put it another way – the end of the world. Each asteroid will be given a sound character according to data from NASA’s Near Earth Object program.

The installation exists as a star map projection which is aligned to the actual position of the stars. The unseen and uncertain asteroids are played through a four-channel speaker system surrounding the audience.

In the Video: Hear the World Ending: an installation by Aloïs Yang.

You have worked across a huge range of media and created a hugely diverse portfolio; where do you get ideas from, and how do you decide on technologies and techniques to realise them?

There is always a fine line between manifesting ideas through technology and embracing the capability of technology. This awareness helps me a lot during the creative process, and also on judging the outcomes. For instance, in a creative coding environment, it is easy to get lost (in an enjoyable way) in all of the functionalities and possibilities, and the original ideas become dominated by mappings, controls, effects, etc. In these lifeless states, I have to remind myself what the main messages I am trying to deliver are, and re-examine the connection with the materials and techniques I am applying to it. This leaves only the most inspiring paths and effective elements that truly support my concepts.

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 16.02.05 In the Photo: Some of the audio behind Hear the World Ending.

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What tools have you invented to use in your work?

I don’t really see myself inventing any tools, especially in the virtual world where it is made up of nothing tangible in the first place. It is flexibility and expressiveness that allows me to have different insights on generating content.

In the end, what really concerns me is: the humanity that brings art to life on both ends, at both input and output.

What role does technology play in your music; do you tend to envisage art based on existing tools, or come up with new technologies to realise your ideas, for instance?

We live in a modern life where information and technology inevitably play a major role in our understanding and perception of the world. Ideas and tools are so tightly connected, and keep on evolving and influencing each other. This is also true in terms of my relationship with tools while making art. Sometimes I am really dependent on it to investigate and develop ideas, whereas a lot of the time I am against it, and use it in a critical way to reflect my ideas. In the end, what really concerns me is: the humanity that brings art to life on both ends, at both input and output.

This I believe is the essential aspect and value of art, as well as my ultimate reference in making decisions.

 

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 16.15.20 In the Photo: A max/MSP patch from Hear the World Ending. 

Creating art, especially when you have to create new tools and techniques, can be incredibly demanding, in terms of both time and energy. How do you maintain a balance between your career and adult life?

I have a really unbalanced life. The only things I’ve learned as I’ve grown are: to be more aware of my state of mind and the condition of my body, and not to let this bad timing affect my work – especially when it is in the fragile status of development.

What do you think are the most exciting developments in music tech at the moment? Thinking of, say, music apps for iPad, VR technology, smart fabrics?

 Human Interface: brainwave, gesture, motion sensors.

 

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 16.08.03 In the Photo: Max/MSP programming in Hear the World Ending. 

Is there a difference between the acts of performing and composing in your work?

The main difference is the energy flow in the process. With performance there is more of a linear build up of the focus, where all contents and emotions are compressed and released in the show. Whereas the process for producing a piece that stands alone can be more broad and open, which leads to more complex and diverse outcomes.

What has been the impact of tech and music coming together, democratising music production, distribution and consumption? Has it changed the world? Has it made it a better place? And, do you think the arts and tech can have real, concrete impact on the world?

I am always positive about developments that lead to openness and diversity. And just like any evolution that has ever happened, there are the good and bad sides of things.

Putting art and tech together, I am really interested in taking art as the role of examiner, investigating our technological life, new beliefs, new values, and speculating about the future. I believe that by doing so, we will not only speed up technological progress, but also the whole development of a better world.

 

Sequence 05.Still015 In the Photo: An insight into the programming behind Hear the World Ending. 

What does it take for a creative project or individual to succeed? In the overcrowded, hyper-connected world of the Internet, what makes something stand out from the crowd and become a success?

The truthfulness of creating something as an extended existence of yourself to the external world, that connects with people’s feelings, thoughts, and creates further interactions. This does not matter if it is a ten-audience show or 10,000 views on a webpage.

Why is audiovisual art so powerful? Is there a point to it, what can it say (if anything)?

I don’t particularly think there is an art form more powerful than others. The reason I think why we pay more attention to audiovisual works is because of the fact that we are overwhelmed by screens, earphones, and other A/V products.

Sequence 05.Still022 In the Photo: A star map in Hear the World Ending. 

The process of bringing a complex project to completion can be incredibly long, and sometimes the goal can sound completely crazy. What is it that makes you decide to undertake a large or difficult project, and what keeps you going through the process?

If a project does not lead me to uncertainties and unexpected territories, that makes me stop. When the goals and ideas are strong and meaningful within the process, I am the audience and the creator at the same time. It’s this constant shifting point of view that makes every up and down interesting, like mini shows, which eventually leads to a point where I am satisfied with the exploration.

 

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 16.11.41 In the Photo: Sky maps for Hear the World Ending. 

It’s always fantastic to find out what work professionals are currently into. Are there any new artists, installations, exhibitions you’re excited by?

Berlin Atonal Festival.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8lCuZMzvw&feature=youtu.be

In the Photo: Panning Time and Space: an audiovisual installation by Aloïs exploring how our digital experience feeds into perceptions of the real world.

 

To find out more about Aloïs’ work, visit his website at www.aloisyang.com.

Cover Photo: Aloïs Yang

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About the Author /

Eleanor studied classics and philosophy at undergrad and is now finishing a master's degree in sound art at Goldsmith's University. Chronically indecisive, her main interests are languages (she did six months of a BA in Chinese at SOAS before changing her mind, can say some upsetting things in Czech and knows how to hire a forklift truck in Italian), the arts, cinema, tech, travel and food snobbery. In her spare time she draws, makes travel plans and worries about the world these days.

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Solar Foods, Finland

Dr Pasi Vainnika is the CEO and co-founder of Solar Foods. The slogan of the company is “Food out of thin air”. Pasi was formerly in charge of the single largest renewable energy program in Finland. However, when he found out that 20-25% of the emissions come from food, he realized that emissions from this sector needed to be addressed, as well as those in the energy sector. But with the growth in affordable and renewable energy – particularly solar energy– it led him and his team to question the possibility of producing food solely from energy, carbon dioxide, and water. It turns out, the answer is yes. Solein is a unique single cell protein. It is produced using a fully natural fermentation process like that of the production of yeast or lactic acid bacteria. The powder, which is produced from the process, is 50% protein, 5-10% fat and 20-25% carbohydrate. Most likely, the first product to reach the consumer market will be a replacement in existing plant-based foods. For example, using Solein in shakes or as an alternative to dairy in milks, yogurts, and even in breads and pasta. In the future, a lasagna could include the protein in all aspects of the recipe: the sauce, in the pasta sheets, and in the filling. Further into the future, there is also the possibility that it could be used as the basis for cultured meat production.
In the Photo: Solein Can be used in smoothies as a protein alternative. Photo Credit: Shawn Fields - Unsplash
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Higher Steaks, United Kingdom

Whilst some people are switching to plant-based diets and others have reduced their meat consumption, some others still want to keep meat in their diets but are looking for more environmentally friendly options. This is where lab-based meat comes in. Benjamina Bollag, CEO and co-founder of Higher Steaks, a UK-based company, believes that it is important to provide alternatives to meat with a lower carbon footprint, but that taste as close as possible to the real thing. She believes that the change required in human behavior to cut emissions will not happen fast enough otherwise. This approach is confirmed by research they have conducted. 52% of respondents confirmed that they would switch from conventional meat to the Higher Steaks alternative, with 21% saying they would prefer a plant-based diet. There are different ways of producing lab-based meat. The process that Higher Steaks is developing is based on pluripotent stem cells, which are taken from a small skin patch or blood sample. The meat that is grown is then shaped into products. Currently, Higher Steaks is working primarily on pork products.
In Photo: Higher Steaks will eventually release pork as its first lab-cultured meat. Photo Credit: Yvonne Lee Harijanto - Unsplash
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Barukas, Brazil

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In Photo: Baruzeiro tree. Photo Credit: Barukas
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In Photo: Closer look at the baruzeiro tree. Photo Credit: Barukas.
From talking with these three pioneers, it is now clearer than ever that we need multiple solutions to address how to sustainably feed a growing population. We need to cut the carbon emissions and reduce other environmental impacts such as water and land use associated with food production. Some of these solutions are a little way off in the future, but others are available now. We are what we eat, but our choices will increasingly determine what kind of future we will live in as well.   EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com.
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