Between June 2004 and February 2005 Nigel Helyer worked as an Artist in Residence at the Paul Scherrer Institut, one of Switzerland’s largest research laboratories. The Following is extracted from the Institut publication ‘Aktuell’.
How might an Artist approach the Paul Scherrer Institut, which by any standards, is a complex intellectual and social organism? My strategy, simplistic though it may seem, has been to imagine PSI as eco-system, or more specifically,...
The “Chant’” audio installation on show at the National Gallery of Australia as part of the National Sculpture Award, bathing the space with the Om mantra.
The ten bronze Buddhas were cast from a 400 year old Buddha image in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Each Buddha is fitted with an FM radio system and the installation is fed with a mini-FM audio signal. Originally mounted in the vaulted foyer of the AGNSW as part of the “Buddha; Radiant...
“LifeBoat” is a prosaic title indicating both the physical reality (the project is contained within a fully weatherproofed ship’s lifeboat) and somewhat more conceptually, as the lifeboat has become home to a Biotechnology lab; a home to the processes of life itself. On a metaphorical level, this project is designed to deal with concepts of sustainability, survival and notions of biological, cultural and ideological re-generation, and naturally its obverse, the...
Year : 1992
Exhibited. As part of the Working in Public project, John Barrett-Lennard and ArtSpace, Sydney, 1992.
Materials. Steel Bell, Performer, Radiophonic Broadcast.
Dimensions. 25m x 12m overall installation ~ performance space with Nationwide live broadcast at Midnight for 21 days.
Notes. The Story so far…Catalogue text for Working in Public.
Field Notes from An UnRequited Space.
I found a small transistor…sometimes I get batteries as...
A Sound-sculpture installation located in two sites.
Exhibited. The Muu Galerie, Helsinki, Finland and at the Cholera Basin, Helsinki Harbour 1996.
Materials. x2 Bronze Bells, x32 Voltaic cells and electronic circuits, audio equipment with ISDN telephone line. Zinc wall texts.
Dimension. Gallery installation :- 6m x 6m, Harbour installation :- variable.
Toll. This project was realised in the Muu Galerie, Helsinki, October 1996 as part of the “Sounds From Elsewhere”...
Exhibited.
The Performance Space, Sydney, 1987.
Materials. Section 1: - Pipe element: Rough sawn Oregon timber, Plywood, Steel fittings and industrial turbine.
Section 2: - Fan corridor: x 2 industrial turbines on timber mounts.
Section 3: - Bell element: Raw clay over wood and expanded metal armature, with plywood mould board attached.
Dimensions. Section 1: - 7m x 2m x 1.5m.
Section 2: - 2m x 2m x 1m (each unit).
Section 3: - 3.5m x 3m dia.
Notes. A Symphony...
Exhibited
W.I.N.D.O.W. Gallery, Sydney as part of SoundCulture 1991.
Materials.
Form ply exterior, Zinc speaker cone with audio system and x2 channel audio loop, Viewing ports with x5 military models and video screen.
Dimensions
Entire gallery interior, frontage access only.
Exhibited
Installation form ~ Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1992.
Radio Broadcast component ~ 120 minutes Opera for ABC Radio.
Materials.
Perforated Zincalum, Steel, Wire rigging, Audio electronics.
Dimensions.
Each unit 2.5m x 2.5m (diameter).
Broadcast Structure.
Text generated with interactive text programme. Human Vocals with synthetic orchestration.
Duration.
120 minutes.
Notes. Siren Song was exhibited at the State Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney)...
From June 1999 until September 2001 Nigel Helyer worked as an Artist in Residence at Lake Technology in Sydney, http://www.lake.com developing the Sonic Landscapes Virtual Audio Reality system. The project was funded for the first twelve months by the New Media Board of the Australia Council for the Arts under its Art and Industry partnerships category.
The salient feature of the Sonic Landscapes project waqs the juxtaposition of a fictive (but very convincing) 3D...
Exhibited.
Arizona State University 2002.
Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth 2002.
Stanford University Gallery 2003.
Boutwell Draper Gallety, Sydney 2003.
Materials.
Timber, Carpet and Prayer Mats, Facsimile Landmine and Mine detectors, Audio electronics x16 channel, projection.
Dimensions.
19m x 10m x 4m.
Notes.
In English we speak of mines sown in fields or laid somewhat akin to an egg, or perhaps a cunningly laid trap. This is a domestic and agricultural lexicon whose...