This week artist Felix Thorn is working in our auditorium, creating new work to be part of the ACCA Digital week performances (September 19-23). We spoke to him as he was working on his newest installation and structure, getting it ready for the September showcase, which will be a collaboration with electronic duo Plaid.

Thorn is an artist who creates music using audio-visual sculptures he designs and constructs. He has currently been here working in our beautiful building for four weeks. In this time, he has been creating a new arrangement, which he has never attempted before. He has also been closely collaborating with Plaid in order to explore their mutual love of music.

Felix said, “The structure is made out of recycled old instruments, broken instruments, dismantled pianos, and customized drum kits, a few random household items in there, anything I could find really.”

Plaid are an English electronic music duo, composed of Andy Turner and Ed Handley. Felix said that he met Plaid at a festival 8-9 years ago when he was making an installation and they were playing.

“I’ve always been a massive fan of their music and shortly after meeting them we started a collaboration, and that’s now been going on since about 2009.” Felix told us.

“I saw Plaid here about 15 years ago when it (ACCA) was still the Gardner Arts Centre.”

“They write music, I write music we put it all together and it’s nice to have an alternative perspective on the machines.”

Plaid and Felix’s Machines will be with us on September 19 at 8pm.