Theo Alexander (full name Theo Alexander Carnegy-Tan), a lecturer at the School of Art and Design, recently completed a month-long residency hosted by the Art Station and Britten Pears Arts in Suffolk, United Kingdom. During this period he conducted research and composed a long-form piece for bass clarinet, viola, and eight tape recorders that focused on themes of technology and control.
Theo is a multifaceted academic and composer; he teaches PCU students a variety of art history and critical studies related modules. Additionally, he has worked at numerous arts institutions in London and Prague, including the Mucha Foundation, Kunsthalle Praha, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Central St Martins. His music has been performed in Europe, Scandinavia, and the UK.
The Art Station / Britten Pears Arts Residency chooses one artist annually who works with sound or moving image, or has the intention to develop their practice in these areas. In return the artist is given the space, time and equipment to experiment and explore new avenues of their creative practice.
During Theo’s residency which took place in November 2022, he developed and rehearsed his piece at Snape Maltings and The Art Station (a former telephone exchange) before the premiere.
The work took loose inspiration from the life and work of scientific polymath John von Neumann, who contributed to the development of early computers, weather prediction technology, and nuclear weapons. The music takes the form of an ‘installed composition’, which combines site-specific art, choreography, and composition.
You can watch a short documentary about the piece below and can learn more about Theo’s music on his website.