Forma Recommends this February
Electronic Superhighway (2016-1966) at the Whitechapel Gallery
Electronic Superhighway is a new exhibition featuring over 100 works created by artists from all over the world. This exhibition that will open on 29th January, focuses on the way that artists have been influenced by new technologies and the internet from 1966 to the present day.
From photo manipulation and digital interactivity to self-surveillance and selfies, this exhibition explores the way technology is used to create artistic projects by artists as well as the public.
Johann Johannsson nominated for an Oscar
For a second consecutive year, Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson is one of the nominees for this year’s Oscars. Sicario soundtrack composed by Johannsson is nominated for a 2016 Oscar Award. Johann Johannsson was also nominated last year, for his work in The Theory of Everything and he won his first Golden Globe for his soundtrack to James Marsh’s film.
Forma has worked with Johannsson to produce The Miners’ Hymns, a film created by American Filmmaker Bill Morrison and Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson. This project is a homage to the coal mining history of North East England.
Antony Hegarty is one of the nominees for Best Original Song Oscar
The nominees for the 88th Academy Awards were announced last week and Antony Hegarty is among them. Nominated for Best Original Song Oscar, Hegarty, the lead vocalist of the band Antony and The Johnsons, was the one to write the lyrics for the song ‘Manta Ray’. Composed by J. Ralph, Manta Ray is the original song for the feature documentary “Racing Extinction” by Oscar winning director Louie Psihoyos.
In 2006 Forma brought together Antony and The Johnsons and artist Charles Atlas to initiate a unique collaboration and produce the first European tour of Turning. Turning is a live performance combining a moving orchestration by an ensemble of eight musicians, alongside Antony, as well as video footage captured, processed and projected by Atlas.
Gayle Chong Kwan talks about her project Pan Hag on BBC Radio 3
Gayle Chong Kwan: The Pan Hag Walks (2014) from Forma Arts on Vimeo.
The Pan Hag project is one of the three projects produced by Forma Arts and commissioned by East Durham Creates. All three projects are developed by selected artists currently living in the area and actively engaging the local people. These projects are created for the local communities and aim to celebrate the landscape, history and traditions of the area.
Gayle Chong Kwan’s project is inspired by the local dish of panackelty, panacalty, panaculty, panhaggerty, pan haggerty, or abbreviated as panack or pan hag, which brings together a variety of ingredients, often locally produced and leftovers. She is collecting different stories about the people living in the area, as they collect ingredients, to create her Pan Hag art project. To listen to the interview click here.