Performances with Electroacoustic Clothes.
AUDIO BALLERINAS
and other Electroacoustic Clothing

Benoît Maubrey (F) is the director of DIE AUDIO GRUPPE a Berlin-based art group that build and perform with electronic clothes (past examples: AUDIO BALLERINAS, AUDIO GEISHAS, AUDIO STEELWORKERS, BONG BOYS, AUDIO PEACOCKS...). Basically these are electro-acoustic clothes and dresses (equipped with amplifiers and loudspeakers) that make sounds by interacting with their environment. For example the AUDIO BALLERINAS use -- among other electronic instruments-- light sensors that enable them to produce sounds through the interaction of their movements and the surrounding light (PEEPER choreography). Via movement sensors they can also trigger electronic sounds that are subsequently choreographed --or "orchestrated"-- into musical compositions as an "audio ballet " (YAMAHA choreography). A variety of other electronic instruments (mini-computers, samplers, contact microphones, cassette and CD players, and radio receivers) allow them to work with the sounds, surfaces, and topographies of the space around them in a variety of solo or group choreographies The AUDIO BALLERINAS, first conceived in 1990, are still presently a very active, vibrant and successful project.
Die Audio Gruppe‘s work is essentially site-specific. Often the electronics is adapted into entirely new "Audio Uniforms" or "sonic costumes" that reflect local customs , themes, or traditions (AUDIO GEISHA/Japan, AUDIO CYCLISTS/France, AUDIO HANBOK/Korea).
In the more recent AUDIO PEACOCKS project wearable electronic instruments are constructed from polycarbonat plexiglass material shaped into a peacock’s fan-like plumage. The plexiglass surface is equipped with 16 loudspeakers (150 watts power), amplifiers, and rechargeable 12 volt batteries. The "audio-plumage" is highly directional and functions like an electroacoustic radar dish. An Audio Peacock can use its own site-specific electronic instruments (see Ballerinas) or amplify and alter its voice using a built-in microphone, sampler, and digital filter mechanisms. The Peacock can also receive sounds from outside sources via transmitter/receiver and disseminate them in a space by orienting its high-tech "plumage".
VIDEO PEACOCK is the most recent performance project from Benoit Maubrey. An Audio Peacock costume made from white plexiglass is used as a mobile projection screen. In this audio-visual performance the electro-acoustic quality of a Peacock is visually enhanced via a video projector. Video-taped images are projected simultaneously to the sounds on the costume. In a more spectacular sense the Peacock's own real-time image can be projected live onto its costume as a form of "video-feedback". Additionally its own voice and sounds can be used to manipulate the projected images: in effect the Peacock "wears" its own sound.
For photos, PDF catalogs, and videos of these projects please look at the following web site:
http://www.snafu.de/~maubrey/
http://www.audioballerinas.com
Benoît Maubrey / DIE AUDIO GRUPPE
Baitz, Bahnhofstr.47, 14822 Brück Germany
tel: +49(0)33841-8265
fax +49(0)33841-33121
e-mail: maubrey@snafu.de

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CV:
Benoît Maubrey/ the AUDIO GRUPPE
Born of French parents in Washington DC in 1952.
BA from Georgetown University 1975.
Since 1980 in Berlin and Brandenburg
Performances and Festivals (a selection):
(2006) Sitelines Festival/ NYC, SIGGRAPH /Boston, Robodock Festival/Amsterdam, Taiwan Digital Arts Festival, (2004) Sonoric Atmospheres/Ostseebiennale der Klangkunst, AUDIO IGLOO Singuhr-Hörgalerie/Berlin, Lowlands Festival/Holland, LEM Festival/Gracia Territoria Sonor/Barcelona(2002), AUDIO BALLERINAS, Location One/NYC, Hamburger Bahnhof, Museum fuer Gegenwartskunst/Berlin, (2001) KunstMuseum/Wolfsburg, New Haven Festival for Arts and Ideas, Seoul Performing Arts Festival, Medi@terra/Athens, Musee des Arts et Industrie/Saint-Etienne, FETA Festival/Gdansk, (2000) Monaco Dance Danses Forum, Tollwood Festival/Munich, Postdamer Musikfestspiele, (1999) IDAT(International Dance and Technology Conference)Phoenix/Arizona, Danzdag Kulturhus Aarhus/Denmark, Les Nuits Savoureuses de Belfort, (1998) MALTA Festival/Poznan, Stockton Riverside Festival/UK, International Symposium for Elecronic Arts/Chicago, (1996)Sound Art Festival/Krakow, (1997) ICC-NTT Tokyo, ISEA/Chicago. SONAMBIENTE Sound Art Festival/Berlin, 38eme Rugissants/Grenoble, (1995)Sound Art Festival/Hannover, (1994) Internation Symposium for Electronic Art/Helsinki, (1993) MEDIALE/Hamburg, BECK Forum/Munich, ULTIMA Festival/Oslo, (1992)Cleveland Performance Festival/Ohio, TISEA/Sydney, (1991) European Land Art Biennale Cottbus/Germany, (1990) Festival les Arts au Soleil, Aeronef/ Lille, Sound Symposium St. John's/ Newfoundland, 1989 Festival PERSPECTIVES/Saarbrücken, (1988) Festival des Arts Electroniques de Rennes/France, "Parcours Sonores" Musée de La Villette/Paris, Festival of Europeen Street Theatre, Aurillac/ France, (1996)STEIRISCHE HERBST Graz,/Austria, (1986) ARS ELECTRONICA Linz/ Austria, The Mattress Factory,Pittsburg/Pa, Berlin Atonal Festival, (1985) Bundesgartenschau 85/Berlin.
Commisioned works (corporate events): BMW, VW, Volklingen Huetten, Hahn Meitner Institut/Berlin, Nokia, Sony Entertainment, NTT/Tokyo, Louis Vuitton / Seoul.

Workshop/ presentations (selection) at the MIT Media Lab, Oberlin College, Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Commonwealth and Concordia Universities.

Awards:
European Award for Street Theatre/Holzminden 1995.
Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance NYC 2006.

Grants\ residencies: 1999 Hull Time Based Arts/UK, 2006 Schloss Wiepersdorf, Brandenburg/Germany.