Whether recording inside physical objects or inside a plant or the human body, composer and artist Miya Masaoka creates sonic incongruencies that feed the paradox of our contemporary condition.

Working with themes that explore the Anthropocene, the biological and physiological response of plants to human and non-human environments, and interspecies communications via sound and technology, Masaoka performs a live set at The Lab with Koto, electronics, and electric monochord. On this occasion, she is joined on stage by Hans Tammen, who uses textures, timbre and dynamics as primary elements in his music. Tammen's performs regularly with prepared and microtonal guitars, Buchla Music Easel, Blippoo Box chaos synthesizer, and softwares of his own design.

In addition to this performance, Masaoka presents an installation of her Pieces for Plants series at the Wattis bar, on view from February 16 – 24.

Miya Masaoka is a Guggenheim and Rome Prize-winning composer, performer, and installation artist. Her work explores the natural world, bodily perception of vibration, movement and time while foregrounding complex timbre relationships. In 2018 she joined the Columbia University Visual Arts Department as an Associate Professor, where she is the director of the Sound Art Program, a joint program with the Computer Music Center.

Hans Tammen is an acclaimed musician and professor at School of Visual Arts, Hunter College and NYU. His work has been presented in festivals nationally and internationally, and has recorded on labels such as Clang, Innova, ESP-DISK, amongst others. Selected grants and commissions include: NewMusicUSA, Chamber Music America, and MAPFund.

This is the fourth event in our year-long season dedicated to thinking about our contemporary moment through the lens of Anicka Yi’s work.

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