Reading Reading
Španski borci, Ljubljana
20 December 2017
Read Reading is a multi-year research project that explores the temporal relationships and differences between reading and speaking a written text through the medium of sound. It delves into the experience of reading as an interface between the inner mental world and the outer world. It wonders whether what demarcates them is a changing temporal and virtual gap and not a solid embodied material boundary.
In this sense, the project addresses the activity of reading as the physical settlement of space, with the printed text functioning as a plan for intangible architecture, which the reader outlines with his eyes and mentally inhabits, and materializes this space with loud pronunciation. In the process of reading and (loudly) pronouncing the read words, the reader simultaneously inhabits and materializes the text.
The first presentation of the emerging project took place at the Cultural Center Španski borci’s Reading Room as a temporary setting and presentation of words, texts and books and reading materials.
“This is about how the reader moves through the written text as the text moves through them, capturing and stretching the temporality just before the text is activated into meaning, and before the reader’s subjectivity is shaped by the encounter with the text. The time before the view, the time before making sense, the time before speech-voice.”
Colophon
Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec: Reading reading, 2017-
multi-year research project
Author: Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec
Software development: Darien Brito
Production: Zavod Sploh in Zavod Projekt Atol
Supported by Creative Industries Fund, NL, City of Ljubljana and Ministry of Culture, Slovenia.
Bio
Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec is Amsterdam-based artist with a particular focus in sound, new media, real-time interaction, and questions of contemporary mediation in relation to the sense of (bodily) presence. His recent work consists of spatial and sound installations, events and interventions, where (un)mediated sonic events act as central element that affectively evokes human bodily presence, while signaling its physical absence. His works encompass interdisciplinary and mixed media installations, sound interventions and electro acoustic music.
Born in 1972 (Ljubljana – Slovenia), he received BA at Trondheim Music Conservatory (Norway), BA in music composition and MA at Interfaculty Image and Sound – ArtScience, both at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague – The Netherlands, where he also followed Sonology course.
He earned his PhD in Artistic Research from Faculty of Fine Art at University in Bergen, Norway, where he was the recipient of Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowship (2013 – 2016). In 2017 he took part in Research Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale. In 2010 his work was awarded at Ars Electronica Festival in Linz – Austria.
Since 2018 he is member of artistic committee of puntWG project space in Amsterdam and a member of artistic committee of DNK – Amsterdam, a series of experimental contemporary music and sound art concerts, events, lectures and exhibitions. Together wit Sascha Pohle, he is initiatior and organizer of Home Sequence, an exhibition taking place in the private homes of Amsterdam-based artists. In 2001 he founded international cycle of sound events, lectures and workshops Bitshift in Kapelica Gallery – Ljubljana. He is currently the recipient of Mondriaan Fund Stipendium for Established Artists – Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent (2018 – 2022).
His works were shown and performed in various museums, project spaces and festivals, amongst other at Kapelica Gallery – Ljubljana, Public Space With a Roof Gallery (PSWAR) – Amsterdam, Sonic Acts Festival – Amsterdam, Ars Electronica Festival – Linz – Austria, Museum of Modern Art – Ljubljana, AV Festival – Newcastle Upon Tyne, SKUC Gallery – Ljubljana, State Museum of Contemporary Art – Thessaloniki – Greece, Gwangju Museum of Art – Gwangju – South Korea, Reseach Pavilion – Venice – Italy, Madrid Abierto – Madrid, Musica a Metronom – Barcelona, Gaudeamus Music Week – Amsterdam, Forum neuer Musik – Köln, festival of contemporary music Contemporanea 2004 – Udine, CMMAS – Morelia, Mexico, Moon Life Concept Store, Shanghai, Toonspur – MuseumsQuartier, Vienna …
Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec
