May 7 - June 13

"Relocation" explores the emotions and sensations evoked by moving one’s life. The exhibition is a meditation on the artist’s recent move from Seattle to Los Angeles. The three installations make manifest the feelings of leaving one empty space (the former life and memories recently packed), arriving at another empty space (the new life with all its implied potential), as well as providing a record of the transitional moments in between.

IN THE WHITE CUBE

YANN NOVAK

Relocation.Vacant

4.1-Channel Surround DVD + Equipment

Unique

Source Material:

A 1-hour recording of an empty loft during the artist’s last dinner in Seattle.

Concept:

This audio installation explores the depth and intensity of emotions that can be provoked from an empty space and the experience of leaving the home the artist occupied for four years.

Aesthetic:

Four speakers are mounted in the corners of the gallery space with speaker wire falling freely, gathering on the floor below then extending to the amplifier. Light will be focused on the walls to create a more defused listening environment.

IN THE HALL

YANN NOVAK

Relocation.Mobile

1-channel video, 2-channel audio DVD

Edition of 5

Source Material:

Two 4-minute recordings from rest stops between Seattle and Los Angeles with a video slideshow of 63 photos taken on the Interstate-5 corridor.

Concept:

Occupying the transitional space of the gallery, this piece investigates the fleeting feelings of being in-between leaving and arrival. It reveals the experiences of not having a home and the isolation of the journey.

Aesthetic:

Projected on the floating white wall in The Hall, images pass slowly from right to left giving the feeling of movement. The audio tracks experienced intimately on headphones give both a feeling of isolation and exaggerate the sound’s movement from right to left. To heighten the experience of being exposed while viewing, a simple white bench in the middle of this transitional space will provide seating.

IN THE BLACK BOX

YANN NOVAK

Relocation.Dislocation

1-channel video, 2-channel audio DVD

Edition of 5

Source Material:

A 45-minute recording of the artist loft in Los Angeles once fully moved in with a manipulated video slideshow of three photos taken in the space.

Concept:

This installation considers the false sense of peace once one has when arriving in a new home. It further heightens the feeling of dislocation that continues even after you have stopped moving. The piece exploits the viewer’s sense by presenting a video that is flickering while the audio moves very slowly, disrupting the connection between the seen and the heard.

Aesthetic:

An almost static video flickering and fading between three almost identical images, presented in a darkened theatre space with an audio track that is constantly moving and changing.

BIOGRAPHY

Yann Novak (b. 1979 Madison, WI) is a sound artist, composer, designer and the curator of Dragon's Eye Recordings. His compositions have been published by Dragon's Eye Recordings (US), Dulcett Records (US), The Henry Art Gallery (US), Infrequency (CA), Mandorla (MX) and smlEditions (US). His work utilizes different forms of digital documentation as a point of departure. Through the digital manipulation of these sound and image files, his works serve as a translation from documents of personal experiences into new compositions fueled by the original experience.

Novak's installations and performances have been presented internationally prestigious events and venues including American Academy in Rome (Rome, Italy), Blim (Vancouver, BC), Decibel Festival (WA),Ersta Konsthall (Stokholm, Sweden), Fiske Planitarium (CO), Henry Art Gallery (WA), Hit Art Space (Gothenburg, Sweden), Kasini House (VT), Mutek Festival (Montreal, QB), Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WA), Soundwalk (CA), Suyama Space (WA), TBA Festival (OR) and Western Bridge (WA).

As a result of these endeavors, Novak had been invited to numerous Residencies including Environmental Aesthetics Residency (WA), Espy Foundation Residency (WA), and Kasini House Studio A Residency (VT)

In recent years Novak has collaborated through select installation, performance and recorded work with Gretchen Bennett, Brittle Stars, Crispin Spaeth Dance Group, Jamie Drouin, Marc Manning, Brian Murphy, Alex Schweder and Tiny Vipers.