instagram: @gnimm555
twitter: @p_flemming
My principal aim is to build systems I do not fully understand, with the intention of attempting to understand them. Technological systems for interpreting and shaping desire texture daily life; a means to rationally orchestrate the world. Might not there be a need for systems which irrationally de-orchestrate?
Peter Flemming is a full-time artist, part-time professor and some-time curator in Montréal who exhibits and works internationally. Research interests include ad hoc architecture, intuitive physics, informal engineering, neuromimes, solar power, waste harvest, saunas. Flemming's work considers natural and technological ecologies, in site-specific projects that are resolved intuitively and experimentally.
UPCOMING / CURRENT
2019
(award/yearlong residency) Québec Studio In Berlin, Conseil des et du lettres du Québec
(solo exhibition) Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
2018
(grant) Canada Council For The Arts - Arts Abroad: Residencies
(grant) Canada Council For The Arts - Explore and Create: Research and Creation
(exhibition), Machine Cultures, Wood Street Galleries, Pittsburgh PA, USA
(radio performance/installation) 98.1 AnxietyFM, collaboration w. Christine Swintak, curator: Pan Wendt, Art In The Open, Charlottetown, PEI
(residency) Banff Research in Culture - Beyond Anthropocene, Banff AB, Canada
(residency), Art Omi, Antrev Habland award (full fellowship), Ghent NY, USA
(residency), DAÏMÔN, Gatineau QC
(residency), full fellowship, Vermont Studio Centre, Johnson VT, USA
(exhibition), Uncanny Valleys Of A Possible Future, CTM, Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
Irrational Orchestration (Spider Logic), Action Art Actuel, curator: Eric Mattson, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC
2016
Irrational Orchestration, L'Écart - lieu d'art actuel, curator: Eric Mattson, Rouyn-Noranda QC
2014
Stepper Motor Choir, as PAVED keynote artist for Sounds Like Audio Art Festival, curator: David Lariviere, PAVED Arts, Saskatoon, SK
Instrumentation, Mois Multi - Festival international d'arts multidisciplinaires et électroniques, Galerie des arts visuels de L'Université Laval, Québec City QC
2013
Ghost Canoe, (commissioned large-scale public kinetic work for the Roy Thomson Hall reflecting pond) Nuit Blanche, curated by Crystal Mowry and Ivan Jurakic, Toronto ON
Instrumentation, Le Bon Accueil - lieu d'art contemporain - Sound Art, Rennes, France
Stepper Motor Choir, FIMAV - Festival internationale de musique actuelle, Victoriaville QC, curated by Erick D'orion
2012
Instrumentation, Lydgalliert - sound gallery, Piksel Festival of open source software, hardware and art, Bergen, Norway
Instrumentation, Meta.Morf - Biennale for Art and Technology, venue: Rake Showroom, Trondheim, Norway
Instrumentation, [Séquence] - contemporary art centre, Chicoutimi QC
Instrumentation, Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD University, Halifax NS
Instrumentation, Biennale internationale d'art numérique, venue: SKOL - Centre des arts actuels, Montréal QC
2008
Reject, York Quay Gallery - Harbourfront Centre, Curator: Patrick Macaulay, Toronto, ON
Lambinatronique/Lazymode, Oboro - Centre for Art, Contemporary Practices and New Media, Montréal QC
2007
Rejet/Reject, Articule Artist-run Centre, Montréal QC
2006
Canoe (solar),Natural & Manufactured Series, Klondike Institute Of Art and Culture, Dawson YK
Manual, Koffler Centre of the Arts, Curator: Carolyn Bell Farrell, Toronto ON
2002
Portrait Of A River, Burnished Chariot Gallery, Curator: Janis Mink, New London, CT, USA
2001
Manual, Eyelevel Gallery - Artist-Run Centre, Halifax NS
Water and Electricity, MFA Thesis exhibition, Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD University, Halifax NS
2000
Why Do Machines Think They Are Humans? Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax NS
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS & PERFORMANCES
2017
Future Flux Festival, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2016
Miejsce. A Place, Galeria Foksal, Warsaw, Poland
2015
Convolute, sound performance, Deep Wireless festival, Toronto ON
2014
Rhizope, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn, Estonia
2013
Continuous Instrumentation, sound performance, Exceptions series, part 3: Inventions, curator: Eric Mattson, venue: Darling Foundry, Montréal QC
2012
Golden Powers, sound performance, first Biennale internationale d'art numérique, offsite venue organized by SKOL - Centre des arts actuels, Montréal QC
Pendulum Music On A Long Thin Wire, sound performance + installation, Objet inusité: international audio arts symposium,Eastern Bloc - Centre for New Media and Interdisciplinary Art, Montréal QC
Instrumentation, Pixxelpoint - International New Media Art Festival, Nova Gorica-Gorizia, Slovenia-Italy
2011
Emergencies - Exhibition of Experimental Contemporary Art, major exhibition for European Capital of Cultural, venue: Fábrika ASA (a massive former textiles factory), Curator: Marta De Menezes, Guimarães, Portugal
Stop. Look. Listen., York Quay Gallery - Harbourfront Centre, Curator: Patrick Macaulay, Toronto ON
2010
Process as Paradigm, LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Curators: Suzanne Jaschko + Lucas Evers. Gijon, Spain
Port Credit Project, Blackwood Gallery - University of Toronto. Curator: Christof Migone. Toronto ON
2009
Resounding, SoundBytes: Halifax Festival of Art and Audio, venue: Dalhousie University Art Gallery. Curators: Peter Dykhuis and Sym Corrigan. Halifax NS
2008
Hybrids, Trondheim Matchmaking - international festival for arts and technologies, TEKS - Trondheim Electronic Arts Centre, venue: Trøndelag Centre For Contemporary Art, Curator: Espen Gangvik. Trondheim, Norway
Schematic, [ space ] gallery, Curators: Michelle Kasprzak, Heather Corcoran, Gillian McIver, London UK
CQAM - Québec Media Arts Council 10th anniversary exhibition, Curator: Valerie Lamontagne, venue: BAnQ - Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Montréal QC
2007
It's A Wonderful Life, Owens Art Gallery, Curator: G. Kelly. Sackville NB.
2006
Danger Will Robinson, Latitude 53 - contemporary visual culture, Curator: Donna Wawzonek. Edmonton, AB.
2004
Electrohype Biennial of Electronic Art, Malmö Konsthall, Curators: Lars Midboe and Anna Kindvall. Malmö, Sweden
Machine Life, Agnes Etherington Centre - Queens University, Curator: Jan Allen. Kingston ON
SELECTED AWARDED RESIDENCIES
2017
Eastern Bloc, Montréal, Québec
2016
NKD - Nordisk Kunstnarsenter Dale, Dale, Norway
2015
Field_Notes – HYBRID MATTERs, art+science field laboratory, Finnish Society of Bioart, Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, Finland
Wave Farm, Hudson NY, USA, with Collectif Radiophonique Oboro Radiophonic Collective
2014
Headlands Centre for the Arts, residency fellowship in sound art, San Francisco, California
Treasure Hill Artist Village, Artist-in-residence, Taipei, Taiwan
Transitory Research Initiative Of the Balkans & Eastern Europe, collaborative multi-city residency with Christine Swintak, Prague, Czech Republic; Ljubljana, Slovenia
2013
University of Wollongong, Creative Arts + Social Transformation research group, Wollongong, Australia
2012
NSCAD University, Artist-in-residence, Halifax NS
2010
Cultivamos Cultura, Experimental Artist-in-residence São Luis, Portugal
2006
Klondike Institute of Art & Culture, Artist-in-Residence, Dawson City YK
2005
TEKS - Trondheim Electronic Arts Centre, Artist-in-Residence, Trondheim Norway
BEK - Bergen Electronic Art Centre, Artist-in-Residence, Bergen Norway
2004
Klondike Institute of Art & Culture, Artist-in-Residence. Dawson City YK
2003
BEK - Bergen Electronic Art Centre + HKS - Hordaland Arts Centre, NIFCA - Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art,
New Media Artist-in-Residence, Bergen, Norway
SELECTED AWARDS & GRANTS
2016
Goethe Institut, co-production grant (as curator for Martin Howse: Dissolutions)
2015
Canada Council For The Arts, Travel Grants To New Media Artists
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Travel Grants - Digital Arts
2014
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Digital Arts Production Grant
Canada Council For The Arts, Production Grant
2013
Canada Council For The Arts, Travel Grants To New Media Artists
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Travel Grants - Digital Arts
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Travel Grants - Digital Arts
Sobey Art award nomination, Québec long-list
2012
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, B Grant Media Arts Research and Creation
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Travel Grants - Digital Arts
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Travel Grants - Digital Arts
Canada Council For The Arts, Travel Grants To New Media Artists
SODEC - Société de développement des entreprises culturelles, Programme d'aide aux artistes en arts visuels
2011
Canada Council For The Arts, New Media Research Grant
2010
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, B Grant Media Arts Research and Creation
2009
Canada Council For The Arts, New Media Research Grant
2006
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, B Grant Media Arts Research and Creation
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
2009-2018
Vice President (since 2013), Member (2009 - 2013) Board Of Directors, Oboro - Centre for Art, Contemporary Practices and New Media. Montréal QC
2011-2018
Programming Committee Member, Oboro - Centre for Art, Contemporary Practices and New Media. Montréal QC
2011-13
Member, Perte de Signal - Centre for Digital Arts and Artist Technology. Montréal QC
2011-12
Rustines | Lab committee - research & creation, Perte de Signal - Centre for Digital Arts and Artist Technology, Montréal QC
2008 - 2011
Treasurer, Board of Directors. Eastern Bloc - Centre for New Media and Interdisciplinary Art . Montréal QC
2010
CQAM - Québec Media Arts Council, representative for Oboro - Centre for Art, Contemporary Practices and New Media
CURATORIAL ACTIVITY
2016
Blood, Brains and Other Trains: Thoughts on Emerging Collaborations & Camaraderie in the Arts and Sciences, colloquium with 25+ artist, researchers and scientists, Concordia University, Montréal
Martin Howse: Dissolutions, solo exhibition + research residency of Berlin-based artist Martin Howse, in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, L'Écart - lieu d'art actuel, Oboro + Perte de Signal, Montréal
Fieldtrip, group research trip to Northern Québec mining sites related to Dissolutions project (above), Rouyn-Noranda QC
2012
Elementary Particles/Les particules élémentaires: Lucie Chan and Hannah Claus, duo exhibition curated with Claudine Hubert, Oboro - Centre for Art, Contemporary Practices and New Media, Montréal QC
2006-10
Dorkbot:Montréal, programmer and organizer, various locations in Montréal including Concordia University and Oboro
2009
Artificial Sweetener: offsite project series, curated with Rita McKeough, OK-Quoi?! Contemporary Arts festival, group exhibition with: Anne McMillan, Jeanne-Pierre Gauthier, Veronica Verkley, Alex Moon, Sackville NB
2006-08
Geek-Concordia, creator and curator, lecture series, presenters included: Garnet Hertz, Norman White, Rita McKeough, Jessica Field, Jean-Pierre Gauthier and Donald Lawrence, Concordia University. Montréal QC
EDUCATION
2001
MFA, Media Arts, NSCAD University (formerly Nova Scotia College of Art & Design), Halifax, NS
1997
AOCA, OCAD University (formerly Ontario College of Art & Design), Toronto ON
UNIVERSITY LEVEL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2005-present
Concordia University, Professor (part time), Studio Arts Department, Montréal QC
2002-05
Alberta College of Art & Design, Sessional Instructor (full time), Media Arts and Digital Technologies Department, Calgary AB
1999-02
NSCAD University, Instructor, Media Arts Department, Halifax NS
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Vincent Bonin, “Peter Flemming: Instrumentation,” Les Cahiers no. 6 / 2013-14, University of Laval Visual Arts Gallery, 2014
Ivy Fleming, “Art Inside The Machine,” Illawara Mercury, Illawara, Australia, June 6th, 2013: page 43
Nelson Henricks, “Ordinary Magic: On Peter Flemming's Instrumentation,” Montréal: SKOL + International Biennale of Digital Art, 2012
Kathleen Flood, “User Preferences: Tech Q&A With Peter Flemming,” The Creators Project, June 13, 2012
Dominique Moulon, “Biennale Internationale d'Art Numérique,” MediaArtDesign.net, Paris, (review of Instrumentation), May 2012
Jérôme Delgado, “Des symphonies aux limites du numérique,” Le Devoir, (review of Instrumentation, photo), May 5, 2012
Aljoša Abrahamsberg, Marko Peljhan, Pixxelpoint 13 Katalog, Nova Gorica, Slovenia: Pixxelpoint, (catalogue, text, photos), 2012
Christof Migone, WOOD 2, Toronto: The Blackwood Gallery, (catalogue, text, photos), 2012
Espen Gangvik, Alex Adriaansens, Meta.Morf Biennale 2012: A Matter Of Feeling, Trondheim: Meta.morf, (catalogue, essay, photos) 2012
Marta De Menezes, Emergencies, Lisbon, Portugal: Cultivamos Cultura, (catalogues, essay, photo) 2012.
Suzanne Jaschko, Lucas Evers, El proceso como paradigma - Process as Paradigm, Gijon, Spain: LABoral, (catalogue, essay, photo), 2010
---, “Volume 11,” El Niuton, (online journal, featured artwork, photos), elniuton.com, Bogota, Columbia, April 2010
Sarah Cook, “London: Canadian New Media Art,” ETC magazine, (review of Schematic, photo) June-July, 2009
Esther Bourdages, “Peter Flemming: Lambinatronique,” ESPACE Sculpture, (review of Lazymode at Oboro, photo) Winter 2009
Neal Thomas, “Peter Flemming,” Canadian Art, (review of Lazymode at Oboro, photo) Winter 2008.
Jérôme Delgado, "Hors d'usage et efficaces," Le Devoir, (review of Lazymode at Oboro) pg. E6, June 1, 2008.
Gemey Kelly, Jon Tupper, It's A Wonderful Life, Sackville NB: The Owens Gallery, (catalogue, text, photos) 2008
Canadian Art. Ashley Johnson (review of Manual at Koffler, photo) pg. 146, Fall 2006.
Norman White, Carolyn Bell Farrell, “Manual,” Manual, Toronto: Koffler Centre for the Arts (exhibition essay, photos) May 2006
Tim Dallett, Lars Midboe, Anna Kindvall, “Peter Flemming: Ends & Means,” Electrohype 3, Malmo, Sweden (essay, includes photo) 2005
Jan Allen, Ihor Holubizky, Caroline Seck Langill, Machine Life, Kingston: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, (catalogue, essay, photos) 2004
Sharon Doyle Dreidger, "10 Artists Who Rock," MacLeans Magazine, (named among top 10 upcoming Canadian artists), January 12, 2004