AF Projects, Los Angeles

Glenn Kaino and Dave Sitek

High seas: Invisible Embrace

Dec 8, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023

Overview

AF Projects is excited to present Invisible Embrace, a collaborative installation by Glenn Kaino and Dave Sitek under the collective name High Seas, which will debut on the West Coast on December 8, 2022.
High Seas is an American art and music collective founded by conceptual artist Glenn Kaino and musician/producer David Sitek. Their manifesto describes a conceptual space of creative freedom:
"A compass spins with the magnetism of humanity. The ship sways back and forth, sailing on the sea of language but trapped in the time machine of a palindrome. Going nowhere and everywhere at the same time. There is no north star, just stars guiding our way through a constellation of concerns. In a space, in space, owned by no one. A pirate utopia outside the rule of law, inhabited only by invisible assassins cut from diamonds. X means 'we were here.' You are now in the HIGH SEAS."
Glenn Kaino is known internationally for his wide-ranging, activist-driven art practice that spans painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and monumental public art. He has exhibited in major museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the High Museum of Atlanta. Kaino has also been a leading figure in the creation of digital brands and an Emmy-winning creator. He co-directed With Drawn Arms, a film about his collaboration with activist-athlete Tommie Smith, and produced both the off-Broadway and film versions of In & Of Itself, which is now a hit special on Hulu.
David Sitek, a founding member of TV on the Radio, is an influential music producer who has worked with iconic artists such as Jane’s Addiction, Kelis, and Beyoncé. He has garnered a Grammy award for his work with The Carters and is widely considered one of the most versatile musical talents of his generation. Sitek’s early training in visual arts as a painter, photographer, and filmmaker informs his unique artistic vision.
Invisible Embrace, 2022
This immersive installation features a 6-channel modular choral organ with vocal instrumentation by various artists, alongside six sample modules, filters, effects, controllers, and function generators, all integrated into a dynamic and evolving soundscape. The installation is powered by 16 speakers, creating an expansive and multisensory experience with dimensions that are variable depending on the space.
Invisible Embrace embodies the collective’s exploration of sound, art, and human connection, inviting the audience into a world that challenges conventional boundaries and embraces the freedom of artistic expression.

Artworks