International Seminar: Immersion to Noise by Dr. Joseph Nechvatal

Dr. Joseph Nechvatal—artist, sound composer, writer, and researcher—brought us through his practice-based inquiry which he explores his interest in noise with conceptual generative art. 

To set us ground to understand about his inquiry and further discussion, he structured and began his sharing by introducing us some main figures in Noise Music / Concrete Music / Fluxus / noise music in the 80’s… the Avant-Garde audio experiment which later inspired him in his practice. His body of work covered a broad spectrum from drawing (small to extended size) to programming, noise sound compose, interactive, and writing. 

His breakthrough from his re-contextual image drawing (the complex appropriation) to computer programming was an act of will. While he composed noise music named ‘Ego Master’ in 1983, he created ‘virus eco-system’ which he called the “Artificial Life”. With virtual camera, audience observe clearly on the programmed but chance driven ‘eco-system of the virus’. The artist explained, he created it with the idea of conceptual art in mind, where only the rules of activity are set. The rest, will leave it to chance.

Having says that, Dr. Nechvatal is critical to the role of (his) art in today society. He emphasised that whether concrete music or any artwork today should arose people imagination and engage them to think in depth and to question. When we pointed his later work, virus on still canvas, is rather pleasant to look at, he response, “Exactly! Why can’t virus to be represented in an opposite way?” His intention is to change the consciousness of himself and audience to perceive the world with a new point of view. Contrast and paradox in art is necessary to engage people. As for the noise, first and foremost for people to accept what noise is.

To Dr. Nechvatal  the complexity happened when things are intersecting. Like the Noise and Concrete Music itself, and later the artist’s exploration of virus, programming, visual art, transcendental consciousness… life and death. His inquire within motivates him decades in the journey of exploration. As for me, personally, I think his complexity is really fascinating! I am immersed to.