The small Sussex fishing village in which I spent my childhood contained two significant buildings, significant not for their formal qualities, they were both simple cottages, but because one was associated with Halley, the astronomer and the other was the home of William Blake the poet. Without being conscious of the fact, I grew up in a cosmos in which the arts and science were intertwined, it has marked my endeavours ever since.

Nigel Helyer (a.k.a. Dr Sonique) is a Sydney based Sculptor and Sound Artist with an international reputation for his large scale sonic installations, environmental sculpture works and new media projects.

His practice is actively inter-disciplinary linking creative practice with scientific Research and Development.  Recent activities include; the development of a ‘Virtual Audio Reality’ system in collaboration with Lake Technology (Sydney) and the ongoing ‘AudioNomad’ research project in location sensitive Environmental Audio at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales. 

He is an honorary faculty member in Architectural Acoustics at the University of Sydney; a Professorial Visiting Fellow in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of NSW and maintains active research links with the “SymbioticA” bio-technology lab at the University of Western Australia.  He has recently been a visiting Professor at Stanford University and an Artist in Residence at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland.

Nigel is a co-founder and commissioner of the “SoundCulture” organisation; a recent fellow of the Australia Council for 2002/3, the winner of the Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award 2002 and the curator of “Sonic-Differences” as part of the Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth 2004.

primary websites:
http://www.sonicobjects.com
http://www.sonicobjects.com/magnus-opus
http://www.sonicobjects.com/life-boat

education:
Foundation Studies - West Sussex College of Design, UK 1971
BA Honours Sculpture - Liverpool College of Art, UK. 1974.
MARCA in Environmental Media - The Royal College of Art, London, UK 1979.
DCA - University of Technology Sydney 1997.

selected awards and fellowships:
• Artist In Residence, WAIT (now Curtin University) Perth WA, 1983.
• Artist In Residence, Mt Lawley College (now Edith Cowan University) Perth W.A. 1983.
• Australia Council - Green St Studio, New York 1988;
• Artist in Residence, Daewoo Heavy Industries, Korea 1988.
• The Exploratorium Museum, San Francisco 1988.
• Artist in Residence, San Francisco 1988; San Jose State University 1988;
• Artist in Residence, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts 1989.
• Artist in Residence, Kohler Industries, USA 1990.
• Artist in Residence, Cite Des Arts, Paris 1990.
• Artist in Residence, Chiang Mai University, Thailand 1991/2 and 1993/4.
• VACB Australia Council fellowship in 1992.
• Visiting Artist to the Hanoi Institute of Fine Arts 1994.
• NSW Ministry for the Arts (Arts, Design & Industry award) for Hybrid CD Rom, 1994.
• Inaugural Visiting Fellow in Fine Arts to Auckland University 1994.
• Visiting Fellow to CAIIA, University of Wales 1996.
• NSW Ministry for the Arts (Arts, Design & Industry award) for Create CD Rom, 1996.
• Visiting Fellow to The University of Western Sydney 1997.
• Visiting Artist to the University of Lapland 1997 and 2000.
• New Media Arts Board Industry Partnership Grant (with Lake Technology) 1999.
• Artist in Residence, Lake Technology, Sydney 1999 ~ 2001.
• Artist in Residence, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2002.
• Pollock Krasner Foundation award, 2002.
• Winner, of the Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award 2002.
• Artist in Residence, SymbioticA, UWA 2002 and 2003.
• Visiting Research Fellow Stanford University 2003.
• VACB Australia Council fellowship for 2002/2003.
• Australia Council + ARC Industry Linkage award (with University of NSW) 2003.
• Artist in Residence, Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland as part of the Artists in Labs programme.
• Artist in Residence, IASKA, Kellerberrin WA September ~ October 2005.
• Artist in Residence, National University of Singapore (for ISEA 2008).
• Artist in Residence, ABC Radiophonic Residency.

environmental works, commissions and the public projects:
• Din-Ding-Dang-Dong commission for Seoul Olympic Park, 1988.
• Chamber Work commission for the University of San Jose, California, 1988.
• Re-Defining Functionalism, University of Technology Sydney 1991.
• An UnRequited Space, intervention/broadcast project for Working in Public, Sydney, 1992.
• Vox Gryphon, Centennial Park Trust, Sydney, 1995.
• Audio-retrospective, Muu Media Festival/Finland Telecom, Helsinki, Finland 1996.
• Metro-Discipline, Metropolitan Dreams in the Helsinki subway system,1997.
• Ship to Shore for ISEA98 Liverpool, UK 1998.
• Drift, Hull Time Based Arts Hull, UK, October, 1999.
• Dual Nature, City of Sydney Sculpture Walk, 1999.
• Meta-Diva, 9 Dragon Head Festival Lake Teachong, Korea 1999.
• Meta-Diva, Helen Lempriere Sculpture Award (winner) 2002.
• Everything’s Nice With American Rice, Echigo-Tsumari Triennale, Japan 2003.
• The LifeBoat project in Oslo Fjord and on the ‘Opera’ as part of ISEA2004 Finland.
• The Syren project on the ‘Opera’ as part of ISEA2004 Finland.
• Theorem prototype interactive audio sculpture for Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland.
• Participant in the McClelland Sculpture Exhibition and Award. Victoria 2005.
• Participant in the Helen Lempriere Award 2006.
• Commission “Talking Stick” for the Exploratorium Museum San Francisco, “Listen” exhibition 2006.
• Commission “AudioMaze” for the WA Blind Association 2006.
• Commission “Lotus” for ECU Sculpture Park 2006.
• Commission “Syren for Port Jackson” environmental audio project with AudioNomad + MCA 2006.
• Commission for Public Art project Henderson Marine facility WA 2007/8.
• Commission for Public Art project “Wireless House City of Sydney 2007.
• Commission for Public Art project Geraldton WA 2009.

exhibitions:
• Galerie Marina Dinkler, Berlin 1981.  Solo exhibition.
• Lieux de Relations, Lyon, France 1981.  Solo exhibition.
• Re-Entry Vehicle, Spectro Gallery, Newcastle-u-Tyne, UK, 1981. Solo exhibition.
• Voyages – Ophichus, Nexus Gallery, Fremantle 1983. Solo exhibition.
• Voyages – Hercules, Portsmouth, UK 1984. Solo exhibition.
• All that Glitters; Terra Nullis, NGV Sculpture Triennale 1984. Solo exhibition in event.
• Ab:Originality, Undercroft Gallery UWA, Perth 1984. Solo exhibition.
• Fruits of the Earth…Museum of Western Australia 1984. Solo exhibition.
• Preaching to the Coverter, AGNSW Perspecta 1985. Solo exhibition in event.
• Et Eritus Sicut Dei, Universtity of Tasmania Gallery 1986. Solo exhibition.
• Die Melodie der Welt, Bicentennial Perspecta, AGNSW, Sydney 1987. Solo exhibition in event.
• Europa Da Da Dumb, Bicentennial Perspecta Frankfurt Kunstverien 1988. Solo exhibition in event.
• Europa Da Da Dumb, Bicentennial Perspecta Stuttgart Kunstverien 1988. Solo exhibition in event.
• Big Bell Beta, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, WA 1989/1990. Solo exhibition.
• Bell Transfer, Ars Electronica Linz, Austria 1989. Solo exhibition in event.
• Mute in TalkTown, The Performance Space, Sydney 1990. Solo exhibition.
• Tone Buddhas, ABC Ultimo Studio, SoundCulture, Sydney 1991. Solo exhibition in event.
• The Lament, WINDOW Gallery, SoundCulture Sydney 1991. Solo exhibition in event.
• Hybrid, USIS Gallery, Chiang Mai, Thailand 1992. Group exhibition.
• Siren Song, AGNSW 1992. Solo exhibition.
• La Zona del Silencio, Mexico and the Biennale of Sydney 1992/93 Solo exhibition in event.
• Gyro Diva, Artspace 1993. Solo exhibition.
• Aura, Annandale Gallery 1993. Solo exhibition.
• Gyro/Video, SoundCulture Japan, 1993. Solo exhibition in event.
• ReCirculations; A Techno-Poetics, at Silpakorn University, Bangkok 1993. 2 Person exhibition.
• ReCirculations; A Techno-Poetics, Chiang Mai University Gallery, 1994. 2 Person exhibition.
• Gyro Diva II, George Fraser Gallery, Auckland 1994. Solo exhibition.
• Oracle, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, as part of Sound in Space 1995. Solo exhibition in event.
• Silent Forest Beta, Annandale gallery 1995. Solo exhibition.
• Silent Forest, San Francisco Institute of Art, as part of SoundCulture96. Solo exhibition in event.
• Silent Forest, National Gallery of Victoria as part of Contempora 5, 1997. Solo exhibition in event.
• Toll, Galerie Muu, Helsinki 1996. Solo exhibition.
• Din, as part of the Innenseit Projekt, Kassel, 1997. Solo exhibition in event.
• Metamorphoses, Elizabeth Bay House in Sydney 1997. Solo exhibition in event.
• Leaven, Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, November 1999. Solo exhibition.
• Transit of Venus, Kiasma (The New Museum of Modern Art, Helsinki) 1999. Solo exhibition in event.
• Transit of Venus, Auckland City New Gallery as part of SoundCulture 1999.  Solo exhibition in event.
• Ariel, in Orbital, Lux Gallery, London, UK 2000. Solo exhibition in event.
• Ariel, in Orbital, CCP, Melbourne, 2000. Solo exhibition in event.
• Metamorphoses II, AGNSW during summer 2000/1 Solo exhibition.
• Chant, Buddha; Radiant Awakening exhibition at AGNSW 2001/2. Solo exhibition in event.
• Caliban’s Children, in CrossTalk, Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney, 2001. Group exhibition.
• Caliban’s Children, TMAG/Solar Circuit, Hobart, 2002 Group exhibition.
• Deluge, in the Artist Biennale, as part of the Adelaide Festival 2002. Solo exhibition in event.
• Seed, SoundCulture, ASU Gallery, Phoenix Arizona, 2002. 2 Person exhibition.
• Magnus-Opus (with Jon Drummond) Garage Festival, Straslund, Germany, 2002. Solo exhibition in event.
• Seed, the Biennale of Electronic Arts, Perth, 2002. Solo exhibition in event.
• Host, Metronom Gallery, Barcelona, Spain. 2003. Solo exhibition.
• Host, Auditori CAM, Alicante, 2003. Solo exhibition.
• Two or Three things I Know… School of Sound, South Bank, London, 2003. Solo exhibition
• NoiseFloor, Stanford University Gallery 2003. Solo exhibition.
• Gone to Earth, Boutwell-Draper Gallery Sydney 2003. Solo exhibition.
• The Naughty Apartment, RMIT Project Space, Melbourne 2003. Solo exhibition.
• The Naughty Apartment, Moores Building, Fremantle, as part of BEAP2004. Solo exhibition.
• The Butterfly Effect, The Australian Museum, Sydney 2005. Solo exhibition in event.
• Exhibition in the Kunst Museum Luzern, Switzerland, as part of the AiL project, May 2005. Solo in event.
• Participant in the National Sculpture Prize, Australian National Gallery July 2005. Group exhibition.
• “LifeBoat” at the “Touch Me” festival Zagreb 2005. Solo/collaborative exhibition in event.
• Exhibiting in “You are here – Entangle” Moores Building Fremantle WA, October 2005. Group exhibition.
• KelleRadioActive ~ IASKA, WA 2005. Solo exhibition.
• Quint de Loup ~ Solo exhibition at the Tin Sheds Gallery USYD 2007.
• Ars Electronica with “Host” (as part of SymbioticA) Linz 2007
• Transitio_MX02 with “HostII” ~ Mexico City 2007.

broadcast works:
• Bell Transfer, for ABC Radio, 1989;
• You can’t speak English to Buddha, for ABC Radio,1990;
• Semi-Automatic Writing, an Opera for Human and Machine Voices, for ABC Radio,1991.
• An UnRequited Space, Public Sculpture/ABC Broadcast, for Working in Public. 1992
• La Zona (with Tony Macgregor) for ABC Radio and the Biennale of Sydney 1993.
• La Campana (with Tony Macgregor) for ABC Radio and the Biennale of Sydney 1993.
• A Silent Forest (with Tony Macgregor) for ABC FM and KPFA Berkley CA. 1996
• Metamorphoses, for ABC radio, 1997. 
• Ship to Shore, a series of 12 broadcasts for the BBC Liverpool, UK 1998. 
• A Transit of Venus (co-produced with Simo Alitalo) for YLE Radio Helsinki 1999.
• A Transit of Venus (co-produced with Simo Alitalo) for ABC. 1999.
• En 0 Red 2000 festival of electronic songs, Spain 2000.
• Regular contributions to the French based Collective Radio and Audio Jukebox.
• Fat Zero, short digital animation for Channel 4/Film 4 (UK screened ~ Channel 4 TV, Rotterdam Film festival, Watershed, Bristol, GMI screen in Leicester Square, London.

forthcoming projects:
• Artist in Residence, National University of Singapore (for ISEA 2008).
• Artist in Residence, ABC Radiophonic Residency.

infrastructure:
Nigel has served as a member of the board of: -
• The Performance Space, Sydney, between 1986~!994;
• Artspace, Sydney, between 1994~1996.
• The New Media Arts Board of the Australia Council 2000~2003.
• Currently a board member of MediaSpace Perth 2003 ~.
• Currently a board member of the NSW Ministry of Arts (Visual Arts) 2005 ~.
• Currently a peer reviewer for the Inter Arts Office of the Australia Council for the Arts.

He has advised the International Council of the Exploratorium Museum of Science and Human Perception (San Francisco, USA) and contributed as an animateur for the Australian Business Network.

He is a co-founder and Commissioner of The International SoundCulture Organisation, is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Architectural Acoustics at the University of Sydney.
He was a fellow of the Australia Council for 2002 and 2003 and is the curator of “Sonic-Differences” a component of the Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth.  He is currently an Honorary faculty member in Architectural Acoustics at the University of Sydney and a Visiting Professorial Fellow in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (with the AudioNOmad Research project).

significant contributions to research:
Dr Nigel Helyer has a unique role in the development of Sound Art, both within Australia and at an International level.  During the course of the past twenty years his contribution in the areas of practice, critical debate and advocacy have had a strong influence on the practice of Sound Art, helping it to emerge from a position of relative obscurantism to become a vital and internationally recognised form of cultural expression. 

Helyer has maintained a strong insistence upon the linkage between practice and theory, not only in his practice, but also in his role as a teacher (Head of Sculpture at Sydney College of the Arts, The University of Sydney 1985~1999).  In a professional capacity he possesses a facility to operate between various sectors, frequently incorporating both Creative Arts and the Broadcast sector.  More recently, he has formed a series of highly effective relationships between Cultural and Technological/Scientific entities.

His role as an advocate for these cross-disciplinary linkages has long been active.  His work as co-founder and commissioner for the SoundCulture organisation, has contributed to the production of a series of seminal international festivals (Sydney 1991, Tokyo 1993, San Francisco 1996, Auckland 1999 and Phoenix 2002) and SoundCulture is a major partner in the current Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth 2004.  During the last three years he has been committed to the development of policy and funding initiatives at the Australia Council that directly support Art and Science collaborations.  He played an active role in the development of the “Synapse” Art and Science partnership scheme that has introduced joint funding by the Australia Council and the ARC, established a nation wide database and hosts Artists to work within Science organisation.

CV-ENDS WriteDate 21/12/2005.