PHIL DADSON
Phil Dadson is a seminal figure in New Zealand’s art history, both for pushing the boundaries of sound and intermedia art since the 70s and for his influence on a generation of now leading mid-career artists. His highly inventive transdisciplinary approach to making art includes solo performances and exhibitions, building experimental musical instruments and sonic objects, video / sound installation, music composition, graphic scores, drawing, sound sculptures and improvisations with invented instruments. Video remains a constant passion for Dadson, as much for its ability to synergistically combine image and sound as for its unique physicality (perhaps not so obvious today with technology closing the gap between film and video resolution).
A member of the founding group for Scratch Orchestra in London, 1969 (with Cornelius Cardew, Michael Parsons and others), Dadson returned to New Zealand to establish Scratch Orchestra (NZ) and later From Scratch (1974). From Scratch (whose founding members included Bruce Barber, Geoff Chapple and later, Don McGlashan and Wayne Laird), while now defunct, is internationally acknowledged for its legendary performances on original instruments. It was the subject of Gregor Nicholas’ film Pacific 3-2-1-Zero, awarded the Croisette d’Or Grand Prix at the Cannes Music Film Awards in 1994, which is now included in the Permanent Film Collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
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