Avantwhatever premieres the first in their new series of audiovisual commissions of digital sound, art, and design as part of Melbourne Design Week 2023.

The commissions will be hosted a dedicated audiovisual server and website, using the open web and peer-to-peer technology to make them freely accessible and discoverable using decentralised social media, as will be demonstrated as part of the event.

The first three commissions will be presented on the night, ahead of publication, using the RMIT Digital Media Black Box's bespoke audiovisual system to offer an ideal listening and viewing environment.

Avantwhatever Commissions Launch & Listening Party 26 May 2023

Commissions from experimental vocalist Charmaine Lee (New York), and media artist and researcher Stephen Cornford (Bristol) will be premiered, followed by a live performance from commissioned musician and artist Peter Blamey (Sydney) with an introduction from curator Ben Byrne.

The  Design and Sonic Practice (DSP) Research Group is based in the School of Design, RMIT University. DSP researchers are active in sonic practices across art, design, engineering, health, music, digital media, life and earth sciences. Research and teaching by the group into these disciplines ranges from composition and design to theory, programming, scientific and medical research, public concerts and installations.

Melbourne Design Week

Melbourne Design Week 2023 celebrates design in an annual 11-day program of talks, tours, exhibitions, launches, installations, and workshops across Australia’s design capital.