Dubmorphology: Trevor Mathison and Gary Stewart

Trevor Mathison (left) and Gary Stewart at the sami outdoor museum Gállogieddi in Evenes this summer, when they were there recording sound and moving images for the commisioned work for AMIFF 2024.

The artist duo Dubmorphology is responsible for the commissioned work for AMIFF 2024. They will present an audiovisual performance at the Várdobáiki Sami Centre on November 9th.

Comprised of artists Gary Stewart and Trevor Mathison, Dubmorphology is a London based research, production and performance project which produces experimental sound and visual installations, examining the relationship between culture and technology. The work created emerges from the artists’direct response to specific sites and environments and incorporates historical and contemporary material exploring social and political issues. Dubmorphology has projects internationally at festivals and art venues, and have recently collaborated with artist John Akomfrah at the large scale installation at the British pavilion for the 2024 Venice Biennale.

“Through experimental approaches to sound art, live cinema and installations, Dubmorphology blurs the boundaries between the sonic, visual and performative. Its practice is distinguished by its ongoing investigation into the unique spaces emerging in museums, art galleries and public spaces formed by the shifting intersections between audiences, authorship and participation." — Michael McMillan.

Trevor Mathison

Trevor Mathison is a British artist, composer and sound designer. Mathison was a founding member of internationally renowned artist group, the Black Audio Film Collective, (1982-1998), where his body of sonic designs defined the Collective's film and gallery installations, including Signs of Empire, Handsworth Songs and The Last Angel of History, which examined the black-British and post-colonial experience in Britain.

Mathison composed a score for Akomfrah & Dread Scott’s Slave Rebellion Re-enactment (2019), and Garrett Bradley's award-winning feature film America (2019). He has also founded and been active in a number of other experimental sonic groups such as Hallucinator and Flow Motion. Mathison is a pioneer of sound installation work. For example, in 2020 he made a sound performance that took place at CAPC in Bordeaux where he was commissioned to make a sonic response to Lubaina Himid's installation Naming the Money.

He recently has had a series of solo exhibitions internationally and album releases under the name From Signal to Decay (volume 1-6). From Signal to Decay: Volume 1 at Goldsmiths CCA (2022) in London was described by The Guardian as “an engrossing show ”and “an unexpected and thoughtful delight”.

Gary Stewart

Gary Stewart is an interdisciplinary artist, academic and curator, who has been involved in pioneering initiatives and projects around the world that operate through a range of theoretical and artistic frames. Between 1995-2011 Stewart was Head of New Media at Iniva, the Institute of International Visual Arts, London, responsible for the digital programme, including installations, exhibitions, online and research projects.

He is a contributor to several publications and podcasts including Digital Diaspora: Young People, Technology and Contested Spaces for Community, Culture and Globalization (2002) published by the Rockefeller Foundation, Encounters Beyond Text: Art Transforming Lives (2011) published by Queen Mary University of London and A Culture of Possibility by Arlene Goldbard (2021)

Formerly a lecturer in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, he is Artist Associate at People’s Palace Projects based at Queen Mary University of London who are part of a global network of collaborators that advocate for equality, climate justice and better health through the arts especially those from marginalised communities.

Stewart currently has a solo exhibition called A Ripple in Time at Orleans House Gallery, London. The work in the exhibition was described by The Wire as having "an admirable commitment to tackling complex, layered themes in a beguilingly succinct, intelligent and open-ended manner."