To kick off the new decade, TOPO is hosting a tactile, auditory, and contemplative installation from January 16 to February 15, 2020. Conversation with Falling Spheresby artist ULO, featuring two interactive sound instruments in his exhibition window on the ground floor of 5445 Gaspé Avenue. This exhibition offers an immersive experience, inviting the public to enter the Vitrine space to explore the symbolic relationship between the plurality of Indigenous voices and the cohesion of sound harmonies.
Two circular platforms emit harmonious sounds when touched, blending together. Two circular works combine the typical elements of a campfire—stone and wood—symbolizing the sharing of knowledge and rituals. One emits sustained vocal notes inspired by Native American minor pentatonic scales, creating a rich and dense set of harmonies that form a whole. The other responds with natural, organic, plant-like tones. Inspired by nature and its mystical representations in culture, as well as the symbolism of drums and spheres in culture, this interactive sound installation embodies the vibrations of life and the unification of voices, a dialogue between man and the earth, a reflection around a “deconstructed” fire.
Conversation with Falling Spheres is part of the first thematic cycle of the Frontière program proposed by TOPO for 2019-2021. “Cultures, Languages, Spiritualities: Beyond Borders” brings together three artists from across the Americas who explore the rediscovery of roots and heritage through questions about memory and death.
ULO (Iris Godbout)
ULO (Iris Godbout) is a multidisciplinary artist (music, singing, visual arts, and multimedia) originally from Canada. She holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts and music from Concordia University. Having studied visual arts and music, specifically singing, for several years, her artistic approach has converged on these two practices. She first took to the stage, then moved on to studio composition, before turning her attention to the visual and digital arts.
Influenced by her background in music, specifically world music, the artist explores the parallels and complementarity of organic materials with digital elements. In recent years, she has immersed herself in digital arts and created, among other things, Holodio, an ambient and narrative sound station including a mobile app designed to awaken the senses and imagination of its listeners.
More recently, she has incorporated electronic concepts into her approach and created tactile sound installations inspired by organic elements. Exploring minimalist abstract and symbolic structures, her practice combines mysticism, indigenous art, natural elements, minimalism, technological art, and electroacoustic sounds.
