At London’s eventual creative beacon 180 Studios, British legendary collective United Visual Artists aka UVA exhibits Synchronicity, their ultimate survey exhibition exploring the perception of space and time and how sound landscapes, information and design deconstructs our reality. The London-based creatives are pioneers using mixed media, foreseeing technology as a tool for their creations here elevating them to sensory-heightening installations. Affluent contributions of the likes of Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, choreographer Dana Gingras, and bioacoustician Bernie Krause. Extended by popular petition, drop by the Hornborn at The Strand until March 17.
180 Studios’ initiative is to establish a creative hub and space that nurtures emerging artists. Entrepreneur and mogul Mark Wadhwa, founder of The Vinyl Factory, took over the building and transformed it into a cultural centre. This move has attracted companies such as Dazed and TikTok to relocate their headquarters to the neighbourhood. The 180 creative network extends to include print media such as Fact Magazine, which has been dedicated to covering the global electronic art movement since 2003, offering a bi-monthly printed magazine, online TV, and music production, all under the creative umbrella of Mr. Wadhwa’s The Vinyl Factory.
You access the exhibition space from the right side of the building on Surrey street, not to mistake it for the main entrance, only for the Soho House’s guests. The 180 subterranean exhibition space is expansive, comprising various rooms with thick concrete walls located in the basement of the brutalist building. The large space is playful, easily adapting to the layout of each exhibition. Synchronicity works like a charm in this space, featuring eight site-specific rooms for each immersive installation.
Arguably UVA’s seminal work, the collaboration with Massive Attack’s 100th Window tour in 2003, Present Shock II, is revisited in Synchronicity. This iteration features a new score generated by an audio system developed by Robert Del Naja. The installation presents a barrage of statistical clocks showcasing algorithmically-generated news feeds, inundating viewers with data and disrupting their perception of time and reality. The concept of emphasising the volume of data was groundbreaking in 2003, and attendees of the Massive Attack tour were impressed by the installation’s innovative approach to illustrating the overwhelming influx of information we encounter daily. Two decades later, this theme remains more relevant than ever. Indeed, I imagine waking up in 2097 to find a similar wall installation in your kitchen, keeping you informed as you enjoy your toast and coffee.
UVA has reshaped digital design with remarkable coding and electronic component-based installations. One such example is Ensemble, inspired by a prior collaboration with choreographer Dana Gingras of Animals of Distinction, seamlessly blending unconventional images of human movement by using the body itself as an instrument. Motion and perception is a theme in which UVA has been exploring for a number of years already with multi-sensory environments. In fact, their work Our Time (2016) https://vimeo.com/172096038 is also revisited in the exhibition with a score by the late electronic musician Mira Calix.
All in all, Matt Clark (b. 1974), founder of UVA, has charted a course to truly redefine the interplay of light, space, and sound. There is a specific point of view from science and mathematics, psychology and philosophy. He has now raised the bar combining advanced digital technologies with traditional media such as sculpture, performance and large-scale installation. They stand as pioneers of moving image, continuously pushing and blurring the boundaries between art, design, and technology, alongside other talented British creatives of the time, including The Designers Republic, Tomato, Universal Everything, Field, and more.
Clark’s collaborative spirit lies at the heart of UVA, engaging with musicians, choreographers, scientists, and many more. It’s truly inspiring and intriguing to imagine what’s next for them. In the meantime, we encourage you to treat and fully immerse yourself in Synchronicity until March 17. UVA: Synchronicity is curated by 180 Studios in collaboration with Julia Kaganskiy.
