The origin of life

Dean Kenning

The origin of life

Dean Kenning (Artist)

Research output: Practice-based/Artistic research › Exhibition

Abstract

The origin of life was the title of my solo exhibition at Beaconsfield Gallery (London), which included as the main feature an interactive kinetic sound installation of the same name. The installation consisted of twenty-one second hand synth keyboards which were 'played' by motorised flaccid finger-like appendages cast from silicone rubber. Motorisation of different 'fingers' were triggered by heat sensors reacting to the physical movement of visitors around the gallery space. The result was the creation of random symphonies as the notes of various keyboards were hammered out as a consequence of the movement of a body or bodies. One important impetus of this work, which built ambitiously on past kinetic work with keyboards, was to construct an automated parody of creative autonomy and vitalist impulses.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 20 Mar 2019
Event	exhibition; 2019-03-20; 2019-04-28 - Beaconsfield Gallery Duration: 20 Mar 2019 → 28 Apr 2019

Bibliographical note

Media: Kinetic sound installation - mixed media

Impact: I was interviewed about the exhibition for an hour-long edition of the radio programme Isotopica on Resonance FM, broadcast on 21 April 2019. Available to access here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/isotopica-dean-kenning-beaconsfield21apr2019/

'Stuck Machines. The Artist in Conversation with Emma Hart' - this full capacity ticketed public event took place on 27 April 2019 with the esteemed sculpture Emma Hart. A recording can is available to listen to here:
https://beaconsfield.ltd.uk/projects/the-origin-of-life-by-dean-kenning/

Description of the exhibition in Time Out London
https://www.timeout.com/london/art/dean-kenning-the-origin-of-life

The installation The Origin of Life was discussed at length in John Roberts' essay 'Dean Kenning's Kinetics' comissioned by Matt's Gallery on the occassion of my exhibition there.
https://www.mattsgallery.org/artists/kenning/KenningPoster.pdf

Video footage of the installation was posted numerous times by people on Instagram and other internet platforms

I discussed The Origin in Life in relation to a lecture which I gave at Stroud Valley Arts called 'Vitalism and the Machine' on 9 August 2019. Lecture is available to listen to here:
https://88invisiblemirrors.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/vitalism-and-the-machine/

Keywords

Music

Access to Document

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Cite this

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note = "Media: Kinetic sound installation - mixed media Impact: I was interviewed about the exhibition for an hour-long edition of the radio programme Isotopica on Resonance FM, broadcast on 21 April 2019. Available to access here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/isotopica-dean-kenning-beaconsfield21apr2019/ 'Stuck Machines. The Artist in Conversation with Emma Hart' - this full capacity ticketed public event took place on 27 April 2019 with the esteemed sculpture Emma Hart. A recording can is available to listen to here: https://beaconsfield.ltd.uk/projects/the-origin-of-life-by-dean-kenning/ Description of the exhibition in Time Out London https://www.timeout.com/london/art/dean-kenning-the-origin-of-life The installation The Origin of Life was discussed at length in John Roberts' essay 'Dean Kenning's Kinetics' comissioned by Matt's Gallery on the occassion of my exhibition there. https://www.mattsgallery.org/artists/kenning/KenningPoster.pdf Video footage of the installation was posted numerous times by people on Instagram and other internet platforms I discussed The Origin in Life in relation to a lecture which I gave at Stroud Valley Arts called 'Vitalism and the Machine' on 9 August 2019. Lecture is available to listen to here: https://88invisiblemirrors.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/vitalism-and-the-machine/; exhibition; 2019-03-20; 2019-04-28 ; Conference date: 20-03-2019 Through 28-04-2019",

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The origin of life

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this