06/06/2008

TUOMAS TOIVONEN: WORDS, CHASED BY SOUNDS

The second in a series of encounters with artists in residence at ambient.space.

Friday June 6th, 7.30pm

The ambient.vista residencies invite artists to address the unique and spectacular aspect over London from the ambient.space studio in Hackney. The programme launched with Wolfgang Staehle (New York / Berlin). Currently in residence is Finnish architect and musician Tuomas Toivonen, who brings his valuable perspective to the vista.

Following the open studio day at ambient.space (Thursday June 5th), on Friday Tuomas Toivonen will speak at E:vent about the work installed during the residency, which tests architectural effects and ideas through an optical experiment. He will also discuss his wider practice, and later create some sounds.

About Tuomas Toivonen:
Tuomas Toivonen is a Helsinki-based architect and founder of NOW, an architecture office that develops solutions for the contemporary condition. NOW is currently working on a wide range of projects from hotels to tableware and prefab houses to urban policy. As artist, Tuomas has produced installations, performances and publications that challenge the viewer’s perception of scale, place and location. Another dominant theme is a critical rethinking of the role of architect and the processes that produce built environment. He has taught urban planning, spatial design and architecture at Helsinki University of Technology, University of Art and Design and the Estonian Academy of Arts.
He is also a recording and performing artist. A 10-year veteran of Finnish dubrock band Giant Robot, in 2006 he released the solo New Album, a 3-sided LP on Stupido and Akichi Records (Osaka). New Album has toured to, among other places, Sónar (Barcelona), Soi Sabai Temporary Art Museum (Bangkok), and 21st Century Museum (Kanazawa). Tuomas is also a member of the 10-piece Acid Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jori Hulkkonen.

ambient.vista is a project of Ambient Information Systems (Manu Luksch & Mukul Patel).

Supported by Arts Council England, Austrian Cultural Forum London, the Finnish Foreign Ministry, and Simon Bishop.

In partnership with E:vent.