Reflecting on the inspiring few days spent in lecture, gig and workshop forms with Audrey and her sound practice I feel as though I have learnt a lot. Although her practice heavily focuses on the voice, her theories on improvisation, stories of working as an artist and the interacting nature of those with just life itself were profound yet unpretentious. She generously and openly shared with us how she got to where she is now growing up in a Taiwanese household in America, studying classical music till uni, having a child aged 23.
“the body is a recording device” – memories, experience…
She talked of a falling and catching yourself aproach to life – organic, an improvisation – an internal search for truest expression – the most honest space to occupy – solo voice is practical and easy to experiment with – practicing is like meditation – the value in patience and incraments – being confused is the upmost state (in performance but also life?)
While she performs she stands stoic, interacing with a mic through a range of subtle to jerky head movemnts creating an almost otherworldy solo language from her mouth. A soloist out of necessity she said. Her strength and determintation in performance and life comes through – she truly practices what she preaches.