serial consign

After hosting a collaboration between Robert Henke and Peter Mettler this past May [see previous post], Pusher is back next Friday with an event showcasing Cologne's Thomas Brinkmann. There have been a number of interesting shows in Toronto this fall but this performance by Brinkmann promises to be something special. While Brinkmann delivered a standout performance at Mutek 2006, he hasn't played Toronto since 2000. Since then, Brinkmann has expanded his practice in several directions ranging from his sample-driven reconstruction of funk and soul with his soul center project to his 2005 Lucky Hands album, which creates a middle ground between his earlier "female series" on Max Ernst and a contemporary pop minimalism.

Another artist sharing the spotlight at Pusher is Markus Heckmann. Markus is a developer at Toronto's Derivative where he works on Touch, a tangible interface for mixing video. Markus will be presenting his Wüstenarchitekten live video project which explores the spatial qualities of music. Markus describes his working methodology:

Working live on a procedural basis the visuals tend to develop structure, patterns and aesthetics in close relationship to the music. Where music is ethereal and architecture is fixed, real time interaction with graphics give us the possibility to ever changing experimental forms, shapes and ultimately spaces.

I've seen Markus perform several times and I really enjoy his layered, geometric abstractions. Markus cites former instructor MX-Zehn and Sven Gareis as key influences on his work.

Pusher will also feature a live performance by Daniel Lui, DJ sets by Tom Kuo, Fatima Camara and Shamus Coghlan and the return of the Wabi crew. The event will take place at the Reverb at Queen St. W. and Bathurst - if you're in Toronto check the event out.