MONICA TOLIA
  • ABOUT
    • Bio & Contact
    • CV
  • PROJECTS
    • De-presencing
    • a snake in the house means the family will never want
    • Sound Perceivers
    • FU Salon
    • Liquid Dreams
    • HAVE YOU EATEN YET? >
      • LUNAR LATE: Year of the Queer Rabbit
      • NIAN is here! 年到了
      • Lunar New Year Festival 2022
      • Deptford X Festival 2021: Have you eaten yet?
      • ABOUT 你吃了吗
    • How to be together again - Residency
    • Flora / Fauna / Machina >
      • Chalton Gallery for Art Night (June 2019)
      • Gossamer Fog (January 2019)
    • Technologies of Lived Abstraction: FUTURE PRESENT >
      • FUTURE PRESENT 2
      • FUTURE PRESENT 1
    • BioSonics
    • Synchronic (In)visibility
  • SOUNDS

BIOSONICS

2018-2019
​Performance, 20 min

​
‘BioSonics’ is a biosignal-algorithmic sonic work performed by Monica Tolia, developed in collaboration with programmer Terry Clark. The performance uses machine learning to manipulate an automated sound set through the algorithm’s reading of the performers’ data. The performer wears sensor bands that communicate their EMG data in realtime to the algorithm, producing the uncanny machinic soundscape.  Here the sound operates as a prosthetic to the performer’s physical movement, drawing from butoh, punk, & contemporary dance.  The performance evolves via creating a space of entropic sound & movement expression in tension with the machine.
Picture
OFX programme written by Terry Clark
​
​Credits:

Programming by Terry Clark
Sound composition by Monica Tolia
Performed by Monica Tolia



Performances:
8 February 2019: The Space, Nottingham Contemporary (Nottingham)​
7 February 2019: Lunar New Year, The Yard Theatre (London)
​24 May 2018: Sonic Topologies, The Glove That Fits (London)

​
Documentation photography: Matthew Cawrey
​

*Supported by UKNA & Goldsmiths Computing, curated by Phantom Limb


​​©  2026  Monica Tolia

  • ABOUT
    • Bio & Contact
    • CV
  • PROJECTS
    • De-presencing
    • a snake in the house means the family will never want
    • Sound Perceivers
    • FU Salon
    • Liquid Dreams
    • HAVE YOU EATEN YET? >
      • LUNAR LATE: Year of the Queer Rabbit
      • NIAN is here! 年到了
      • Lunar New Year Festival 2022
      • Deptford X Festival 2021: Have you eaten yet?
      • ABOUT 你吃了吗
    • How to be together again - Residency
    • Flora / Fauna / Machina >
      • Chalton Gallery for Art Night (June 2019)
      • Gossamer Fog (January 2019)
    • Technologies of Lived Abstraction: FUTURE PRESENT >
      • FUTURE PRESENT 2
      • FUTURE PRESENT 1
    • BioSonics
    • Synchronic (In)visibility
  • SOUNDS