A local high school student has been given the chance to take part in the recent Bugle Boy and the Electric Boogaloos exhibition, playing the bugle to accompany the unique art instillation.
In this series of experimental videos and drawings, Sydney-based artist Todd Fuller collaborates with conductor and brass musician Ryley Gillen and together they create an interdisciplinary call and response.
While Ryley was not able to be in Bundaberg for the exhibition opening, local Bundaberg State High School student Matthew Simmons was given the opportunity to play the bugle instead.
While he usually plays the trumpet, the grade 11 student said it was an exciting opportunity to have been able to be part of the exhibition.
“I was given music to learn over the past few weeks,” Matthew said.
“I have been playing the trumpet for eight years now and while it was a challenge to learn the bugle because it is slightly different, it has been a great experience.”
Artist Todd Fuller said he was excited to be able to give Matthew the opportunity to be part of the exhibition when Ryley was unable to make it.
“The Bugle Boy and the Electric Boogaloos is an installation involving a video artwork which is an exchange between a bugle player and a live animation so basically what we are doing is playing with traditional bugle calls and then we are trying to articulate them into drawing in light,” Todd said.
“While Ryley was unavailable to play the bugle on the night, it actually became a really great opportunity to work with a local bugle player.
“Matt Simmons has stepped in and learnt all of the pieces all while getting familiar with the bugle.”
In these works, drawing is activated through the form of live animation to perform alongside composition and live music, the pair create duets between their mediums in real time.
Just as the bugle was used to signal action in the troops, here the artists undertake a contemporary song cycle, as unexpected artforms harmonise and advance.
Todd said the exhibition was completely unique, featuring a diverse mix of music and drawing.
“This is quite an experimental instillation, I can pretty confidently say it is something quite unique,” he said.
“We are looking at these bugle calls which were articulating military actions and then we are taking the same conversion of text to sound and playing with it in terms of line and colour.
“This concept came about after years of exploring how drawing can interact with other art forms, so I have worked with drawing and dance, and drawing and choral pieces and drawing and theatre.”
The exhibition is open until Sunday 14 August at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery.
You can find out more about the exhibition here.
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