Ben Glas

Statement

BenGlas (b. 1992) is an experiential composer and conceptual artist based in Portland, OR. Through ephemeral compositions, Glas’ work questions preconceived notions between passive and active participation, collapses the difference between hearing and listening. In seeking to discover open ended forms of music and listening perspectives, Glas’ compositions focus on subjective perception, via the use of acoustics, psychoacoustics and space as tools for experiential composition.

GlogauAIR Project

I would like to propose a multidisciplinary project with a distinct focus on the subjectivity of perception. My working concept of this is an abstract theatrical production with a strong emphasis on sound. Using my acquired knowledge of subjective sound sources, I would like to compose a performative installation – one that is activated by actors and dancers throughout the course of the proposed exhibition.

In 2018, alongside designer Ines De Peuter (Adidas), I composed pieces for formal interference interaction. The result was a single-faceted performance piece, whose subjective phenomenon were all contingent upon the movement of the dancers in the space itself. In others words, the contraptions worn by the dancers in the sonic field, negated and reflected the standing waves presented to the space. The result was a fully immersive piece, that literally, physically and metaphorically, included all bodies within the space. Documentation for these sound suits and an example of their sonic interference can be found in the last video sample in this form.

The costumes (or sonic sculptures) utilized were initially formulated in another residency earlier this year.

Upon further examination, De Peuter and I have discussed taking this concept to a new dimension. We are now looking to incorporate the relativity of light into the mix, thereby crafting a minimalist play completely based on ephemeral perceptive phenomena. The true objective of this project is to highlight subjective reactions to an objective reality.

CV Summary

EDUCATION

• 2010 – 2011 Sharjah English School, Sharjah, UAE– A-Levels (Chinese and British History, Arts and German)
• 2012 – 2017 Pacific Northwest College of Art– BFA(Video, Sound and Media Department)

EXHIBITIONS

• 2018 Group show: Williamson Knight Gallery Shareholder’s Show, Portland, OR
• 2018 Group show: La Totale Collective Show at Studio ORTA, Les Moulins, France
• 2017 Solo Exhibition: “Harmonistasis”, PNCA Student Gallery
• 2017 “UNTITLED (°45.536693 °-122.665898 13/8/2017 22:40H)” Multichannel performance with 7 performers, as a part of PICA’s (Portland Institute of Contemporary Art) TBA Festival, Portland, OR
• 2017 Solo Exhibition: “A Social Harmony”, Ohrenhoch! Der Geraeuscheladen, Berlin, Germany
• 2017 Group show: In Naam Der Kunst’s “In Naam Der Kunst @ Dokhuis”, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 2017 Solo Exhibition: “(Music) For A Time And Space”, at Variform Gallery, Portland, OR
• 2016 “B-Format Installation”, at St. Johns Cathedral Park. Regional Arts and Culture Council funded public installation, Portland, OR
• 2016 DeepWhiteSound’s “Composites Biennial”, at Buena Vista Park. Guided audio composition. San Francisco, California

AWARDS

• 2018 PNCA Video and Sound Thesis Award
• 2017 Top 5 Events in Portland Design Week
• 2016/2017 Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) Grantee
• 2015/2016 PNCA Merit Scholarship
• 2015/2016 Precipice Fund (Calligram Fund for the Arts, The Andy Warhol Foundation, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art) Grantee
• 2014/2015 PNCA BFA Show Award

Gallery