The Weather Man

BACKGROUND The Sounds of Weather was a cross-cultural art and project linking research activities from Musashino Art University, Tokyo with the School of Art, RMIT University, Melbourne to investigate the experience and behaviour of weather through sound, video and performance. The project included site visits to the Sumida River, Tokyo Bay, Saitama Underground Discharge Facility (Japan) and the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme (Australia). A combination of interconnected perceptions (using all our senses) experienced by the body forms our understanding of climatic conditions. Weather is a universal phenomenon that shapes our perception of ourselves, and the places that we inhabit. Perceptions of weather are shaped by multi-sensory encounters and experiences: auditory, visual and tactile. CONTRIBUTION The project included performances and exhibits at various venues in Tokyo and Melbourne (including Superdeluxe, West Space Gallery and Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine). The Weather man was a 45 minute multimedia presentation, including live performance, video projection and live video feed. Perry brought his understanding of the site-specific artistic interpretation and research addressing elements of environment to the project. The works produced during The Sounds of Weather provide a broad survey of how artists have attempted to capture the influence of weather within a diverse set of locations. This enabled an investigation of the spaces, conditions, technologies, and language used to harness weather in activating awareness of how it shapes daily life. Artists contributed a divergent set of responses as variable and dynamic as any meteorological event. SIGNIFICANCE The project was funded by an RMIT Foundation International Exchange Fellowship and a special project grant from Musashino Art University.