Zubin Kanga Performs Venables Answer Machine Tape, 1987

Zubin Kanga performs the London premiere of Answer Machine Tape, 1987, a major work for piano and multimedia by Philip Venables, created in collaboration with dramatist Ted Huffman. It focuses on visual artist David Wojnarowicz, whose answering machine tape becomes a window onto the 1980s New York art scene, its queer community, and the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis.

As part of Zubin Kanga’s Cyborg Soloists research project, the work uses new sensor technology - the Keyscanner created by the Augmented Instruments Laboratory - allowing the piano to function as a typewriter to transcribe, comment on and illuminate the messages. In Answer Machine Tape, 1987, the audience eavesdrops into a private world, messages are transliterated into a musical fabric, become character studies, become reflections on a community, become attempts to decipher meaning. Transcription, and its failure in the face of extreme difficulty, becomes a poignant metaphor for the AIDS crisis and its devastating effect on a generation.

Answer Machine Tape, 1987 was composed by Philip Venables in collaboration with dramatist Ted Huffman and programmer Simon Hendry.

Age restriction: this event is suitable for ages 16+

This event will last approximately 45-60 minutes, without an interval.

Presented by Kings Place.

This is a 16+ event.