It’s the second day of Liquid Architecture, and I have just arrived at the Institute of Modern Art which is already buzzing with life. People of various ages and appearances have gathered in the extremely darkened screening room, where Anja Kanngieser & Daniel Jentasch begin their performance. It is a sonically driven performance, resembling a spoken word piece. Kanngieser maintains a firm yet soothing voice, speaking slowly into the microphone in front of her. Only the paper from which she is reading receives the attention of a glimmer of light. The rhythm and tempo of her words is continuously steady, her comforting voice is accompanied by various audio tracks that range from footsteps, all the way to sounds that resemble what one would imagine is the universe, people and even unknown scenarios. This is ever so fitting as the content of this entire performance is based around capitalist production, climate change, social relations and their consequences on ecology, and the potential extinction of the human race. One of my favourite lines from this performance was "Our voice is all the stars will remember" which was complemented by some slightly psychedelic musical audio clipping, that reflected how this may sound in the infiniteness of the dark depths of the stars. The performance’s setting and atmosphere allows to apply imagery to the words and music of the artists, highlighting the effectiveness of the performance. 

A slideshow of seemingly great times for the preceding artist, Alrey Batol, starts off the second presentation, encouraging laughter to echo through the hollow halls of the demonstration room. Yet, an element of mystery is kept as Batol sits with his back to the audience, focusing on the computer which he has set up in front of him. An opera track with elements of electronic and house music is blared throughout the around four minute long introduction, seemingly demonstrating the artists vibrant social life, although it is uncertain whether he is pictured at all. Quickly moving on, Batol decides to go on Facebook, where it is primarily unclear what his undertaking may be. That is because he is actually not predominantly busy, just somewhat browsing, as you do. He seems to be studying his friends’ profiles. The atmosphere in the room slightly changes as the classical electro music stops, and starts to become rather eerie. Batol continuously downloads pictures of various girls which he has found on Facebook, onto his desktop. It starts to become indistinct whether he even is acquainted with the people in the slideshow at the beginning at all. Music that literally induces chills down one’s spine; but not the good kind, is unfortunately very loudly ringing through the speakers. The creepiness is taken up yet another level when Batol begins to initiate Google Earth, and very clearly research the house of a girl from the anti-social social media site. Is this what the new age psychopath looks like? Where no real research, and suspicious real life studying of people is required? Does the desire of posting selfies really outweigh the concern for privacy? The self-spoken presentation leaves one questioning the many facts that the general human population is actually already aware of, but chooses to ignore.

The third act, Basic House, has arrived from the UK to contribute to Liquid Architecture with this mini-set of original electronic music. A melancholic beat captivates the now darkened room. Crackling door noises and numerous other odd resonances that are difficult to decipher, convoy the clear, well timed electronic rhythms that are steadily building up a beat. Basic House is extremely focused throughout the performance, paying attention to every little sound that could enhance the song. Elements of house and techno irradiate all over the over thirty minute long piece. Several members of the audience close their eyes, initially to capture the sounds that are escaping the audio apparatuses in front them, to their full potentially. Soon enough though, I believe various members of the crowd may have become so reminiscently lost in the music that they are fading in and out of consciousness. The music clearly has a hypnotizing effect, having enchanted its audience to an extend that some required a couple of minutes to come out of their trance and awaken after Basic House’s performance.

New Zealander Kraus mixed what could be contemplated as a range of awfully off-pitch instrumentals with synthesizers that perhaps are meant to contrast each other in the effect they have on the human mind. Whilst the audience upholds a dreary state of mind from their Basic House daydream, I’m sure that some of the shrieking and shrill noises will be only encouraging to awaken once more. There are definite influences of the Hippie Era throughout this set, clearly demonstrated in the range of different instrumentals and sounds created by Kraus. I am quite unsure whether parts of this set are considered music making, or if instead this is simply a demonstration of the noises that it is possible to create with technological ‘advancements’. Nonetheless what is really impressive is that apparently these synthesizers are actually handmade by Kraus himself. The artist also continued to supernaturally play the guitar which is delightful, at times.

The best way to attempt describing the final performance of the night, which was hosted by UK artist Richard Dawson is with one word: contrast. Melodies that are tragically miserable are contrasted out by upbeat rhythms, which are then again swiped out by the unignorably melancholic strings of the guitar that Dawson is playing so well. This new exploration of simultaneous vocalisation and instrument seems so familiar yet so distant. It is well thought out, yet uninhibited, so raw that it captivated the audience into the every sound that Dawson created throughout his inspiring performance. With a clear lead of electronically inclined melodies, Dawson nonetheless does not bargain off any attention from his distorted riffs. The eclectic mixture of various sound made for a profound ending to his set.

At the very least, my time spent at Liquid Architecture concluded to an extremely interesting evening, leaving the audience in an excited mood for the forthcoming exhibits and performances. 

- Tara Zupp