Art Galleries are not usually dangerous places, but the giant ball that will roll around tonight is more hazardous than the average art-work. At the Melbourne opening of Sphere of Influence last month, one curious bystander broke an arm running after the installation.
Sydney Morning Herald 21/11/2007
What is it about the ball?
A ball flying through space has an inherent mystery; it replicates our lonely and insecure position in the universe. From the youngest age we all recognise the universality and truth of the user-friendly ball. It's global.
To sport fans the ball verges on being a sacred object: the ball game - a religious rite. Bill Shankly, the legendary manager of the Liverpool soccer club, was once asked if football was a matter of life and death. 'No' he said, 'It's more important than that'.
Bill was right. The earth is our favourite ball, and it's in bad shape.
Federation Square Melbourne: it's dark. A huge white ball is being pushed, heaved, thrown, and rolled around in a game - or is it a ritual? As the ball moves, it sings, it speaks, it screams. It's a clever ball: its motion can manipulate both sound and images.
As the ball spins, it juggles with words - words of wisdom, words of power, words of warning.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney: The ball takes human form and Aku Kadogo is that form. This ball is under stress.
Jon Rose - concept, composition, design, real time MIDI performance
Robin Fox - real time MAX performance
Aku Kadogo - the human ball
Hollis Taylor - violin obligato
The Song Company - vocal samples and Latin philosophy
Victoria Hunt - ball performer
Katia Molino - ball performer
Performances and Installation at The Art Gallery of NSW 21-25 November 2007
Come and play ball, make music, manipulate images
O diem praeclarum
Oh what a beautiful day
Magister Mundi sum
We are the masters of the universe
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium
There is no free lunch
quod me nutruit me destruit
What nourishes me, destroys me
Stercus accidit
shit happens
dies irae
day of judgment
Mors ultima linea rerum est
Death is everything's final limit
Amen
Yes, Amen to all that