Numinous Machines
Technologies of Consciousness
The duo Technologies of Consciousness presented the world premiere of their Avatar-MUTEK creation and dissemination residency at MUTEK 25th edition (Montreal).
With Numinous Machines, the Sonya Stefan and Stephanie Castonguay duo named Technologies of Consciousness proposes an audiovisual odyssey into an infinite, majestic cosmos, a psychedelic cycle leading to the frontiers of a slow transition to death. Fusing sound and image through a graphic notation governed by the laws of organic decomposition, this performance employs micro and macroscopy, reinvented turntables and homemade vinyl discs made of bioplastic with added textures, on which the collages of pieces by 6 audio artists are engraved. Castonguay and Stefan propose their approach to turntablism, highlighting the cyclical nature of materials and their transformation.
Selected for the fifth edition of the Avatar-MUTEK Creation and Diffusion Residency, Technologies of Consciousness shared the fruit of its work with the Quebec City public at an Avatar-MUTEK residency outing on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at the Cinéma Beaumont (Méduse). This annual event, held prior to the Montreal festival, provides an opportunity for generous and constructive exchanges with the artists.
Numinous Machines have its world premiere on August 22 at MUTEK Édition 25 (Montreal).
MUTEK 25th Edition – NOCTURNE 3 – 08.22 | 10:30 pm_3:00 am
Performs at 11:00 pm_11:30 pm
Live A/V
CREDITS
Visual, sound and bio-composite research: Sonya Stefan & Stephanie Castonguay
Artistic advice: Sarah Williams, Gabrielle Harnois-Blouin, Patti Schmidt
Tourne-disque tricks: Martin Tétreault, Jean-Michel Thellen
Sound collage with the participation of the artists: Anne-Françoise Jacques, Gabrielle Harnois-Blouin, Patti Schmid Anne-Françoise Jacques, Gabrielle HB, Jackie Gallant, Sonya Stefan, Stephanie Castonguay, Vivian Li
Original vinyl production: Jackson Darby (Personal Touch Vinyl), Cristobal Urbina (See You Mastering)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Technologies of Consciousness gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts. Numinous Machines is a co-production of AVATAR and MUTEK.
Sonya Stefan uniquely merges analog and digital media, crafting captivating visual landscapes using 16mm film and TouchDesigner. Her approach is marked by innovative techniques such as contact printing, DIY eco-processing, and macro nature imagery. A celebrated figure in dance documentaries, Stefan earned accolades for The Truss Arch, including an IRIS nomination and Best National Short or Medium-Length Film at RIDM 2021 and RVQC 2022. Collaborating with dance companies like Animals of Distinction and Petrikor Danse, her work at MUTEK Montréal showcases a rich confluence of cinema, technology, and choreography, highlighting her profound engagement with the natural world and movement.
Stephanie Castonguay works in the realm of sound and technology, transforming discarded machines into experimental electronic instruments. Their unique approach focuses on the physical transformation of materials, exploring their inherent musicality and capacity for glitch and resonance. Through performances and installations, Castonguay bridges tangible and barely perceptible realms, amplifying the subtle sonic qualities of everyday materials. Featured at prestigious venues like LAB30 and MUTEK, their work invites audiences to rethink their sonic environment, highlighting the unfamiliar within the familiar. Castonguay’s art challenges perceptions, making the imperceptible audible and surprising.
Creative residency at Avatar (Québec) from July 29 to August 19, 2024
Image credit header and photo gallery: Stéphane Bourgeois – Avatar-MUTEK residency, 17 August at Cinéma Beaumont (Québec)
Image credit below: Carole Siciak – August 17 in the Avatar studio
