Artist Talk by Maia Urstad
Published
The artistic practice of Maia Urstad is continuously exploring the intersection of contemorary music, sound and visual art. She graduated from The Bergen National Academy of the Arts in 1981 whilst a member of the ska/new-wave group ‘Program 81’, releasing 4 records and touring between 1979-84.
In the eighties, her artistic medium migrated toward sound experimentation, and since 1987 she has worked with sound in various art projects, installations, site-specific concerts, theater and films in Norway and abroad.
In her work sound is integrated with specific locations. Recent practice includes outdoor and indoor sound installations and performances, using CD and cassette-radios for sound reproduction and transmission as well as building sculptural objects, commenting on the temporary nature of present technology. The sound-textures for these projects are made from found and concrete sound sources, particularly signals from radio broadcast and telecommunication. At present she is investigating multi-channel FM transmissions sent to multiple radios as sound installations and performances.
Maia Urstad also curates and produces sound-related art projects and exhibitions through her company ‘Maur Prosjekter’, and she has collaborated with a wide range of artists, curators and producers over the years.
She has been awarded a state working grant for artists 2008 – 2010.
More information:
http://www.maia.no/