TOPOS is an independent arts organisation, founded in 2019 by three artists and composers, Jacob Kirkegaard, Tobias R. Kirstein and Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard, to pursue their shared commitment to cross cultural and cross media activities that move beyond the strictures and boundaries of separate fields and disciplines. Its projects and program use various modes of presenting, publishing and releasing contemporary and archival material, generated or discovered by TOPOS.
TOPOS is collaborating with Julie Martin, Director of Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) to research and publish selected material from the organization's extensive archive of sound recordings that include performances, interviews and other sound material produced by E.A.T. activities over the past 50 years. A double vinyl gatefold of John Cage's Variations VII from the legendary 9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering in New York City in 1966 marked the beginning of TOPOS' collaboration with Julie. Their main focus is on sound generated in the 9 Evenings performance works by artists such as John Cage, Lucinda Childs, Alex Hay, Deborah Hay, Robert Rauschenberg, David Tudor and Robert Whitman.
The Kluever / Martin Archive also holds recordings made with artists, curators and writers in the early 1990's and works with Topos to make these available on its website.
Some of the TOPOS productions are available without cost while others can be purchased though this website. All proceeds from the digital series will fund future releases from the E.A.T. archives. We ship worldwide and accept payment through PayPal.
TOPOS CURRENTS
E.A.T. and KLUEVER/MARTIN ARCHIVE
RECENT - AND WORKS IN PROGRESS
ARTIST
TITLE
FORMAT
DATE
David Tudor
MONOBIRDS
LP x 2 + ESSAY
October 7, 2021
Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard
Personfølsom Musik (Personal Sensitive Music)
LP and CD
November 21
David Tudor (RE-ISSSUE of 100 extra copies)
MONOBIRDS
LP x 2 + ESSAY
March 22
American poets: Allen Ginsberg
Art & Artists 1945-1965: The Interviews
DIGITAL
TBA
Japanese art collective HI-RED CENTER
Art & Artists 1945-1965: The Interviews
DIGITAL
TBA
The avant-garde movement CoBrA
Art & Artists 1945-1965: The Interviews
DIGITAL
TBA
Vienese artists / Vienna Actionists
Art & Artists 1945-1965: The Interviews
DIGITAL
TBA
Jenny Holzer
Truismeplakat - Kunstnertekster #4
BOOK
TBA
Sol LeWitt
Sætninger om konceptkunst - Kunstnertekster #3
BOOK
TBA
Agnes Martin
Det ubekymrede sind - Kunstnertekster #2
BOOK
TBA
David Smith
Spørgsmål til kunststuderende - Kunstnertekster #1
BOOK
TBA
The Story of E.A.T.
Audio documentary by Julie Martin & Jacob Kirkegaard
March 7th, 2022: Note regarding purchase of Monobirds:
We have decided outsource the direct handling of the remaining copies of this album to selected mailorder online stores.
However, we're still waiting for the extra 100 copies from the pressing plant.
Until then you can still reserve a copy by writing us on the address above.
ACTIVITIES
Topos & Julie Martin visit to Swedish island Knavelskär
In September 2019, members of Topos (Jacob Kirkegaard and Tobias R. Kirstein) and Swedish researcher Anna Lundh, joined by Julie Martin of E.A.T. and Tudor scholar You Nakai, visited Knavelskar, an island in the Swedish archipelago intrigued by the ideas David Tudor had for a collaborative concert on the island that would reveal the elements of the island through compositions of sounds recorded on the island and visual elements; fog sculptures by Fujiko Nakaya and long tailed kites by Jackie Matisse. The concert was never realized.
Topos, having studied Tudor’s detailed plans and visions for the project, explored the island, making recordings of both natural sounds and their impromptu sound interventions using earlier recording of Tudor’s voice, with the idea of developing a performance piece of their own that would more reference than realize Tudor’s original ideas.
A new sound work is being produced by Topos that aims to realize Tudor’s visions for the project in the 21st century.
Topos & Julie Martin performing John Cage's Variations VII
Topos & Julie Martin performing John Cage's Variations VII
This 2nd performance of Variations VII in Scandinavia was realised by Topos: Jacob Kirkegaard, Tobias R. Kirstein and Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard. Special guest for this evening was Julie Martin, born 1938 in Nashville and the director of the E.A.T. The performance took place at Copenhagen Contemporary and was supported by SNYK, 19th of September 2019.