Art & Life with Victoria Shen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Shen.

Victoria, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in San Francisco binging on music, visual art, films, comics, and video games. Moved out to Boston 11 years ago to pursue an education in art and have been living here ever since.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a visual artist and sound performer that has a background in building analog synthesizers and other electronics. My instruments are designed to electronically reproduce chaotic systems, systems which are highly sensitive to small changes in their initial parameters. The resulting music eschews conventions in harmony and rhythm in favor of the extreme textures and gestural tones. I also like to think about sound as a physical medium that floods its location acting as a form of sculpture. The spatiality/physicality of sound, the way it interacts with the human body, is an important dimension to be explored.

I often incorporate live video performances that produce visual palimpsests and digital residues. I use software that I’ve authored in Max/MSP order to generate visuals combining real-time video with found footage thematically linked by sexuality, violence, and art history through a process of exaggeration/effacement.

I also make work that blurs that line between visual and sound art. Kinetic sound sculptures and installations that use motors and discarded piano parts to play themselves. Casted pewter cassette tapes that play. Earbuds that are glowing 3-D printed cicadas that cling to your ear when worn.

In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
Lack of space for artists, venues/galleries etc. And a lack of institutional support and state funding.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I frequently play in the Boston area either solo as evicshen or with my band TRIM. People can support me by going to these shows or purchasing my album Klee Doll here:
https://hotreleases.bandcamp.com/album/klee-doll

Contact Info:

• Website: evicshen.com
• Email: evicshen@gmail.com
• Instagram: yegglet
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascenshen

Image Credit:
Photos by Joseph Mauro and Tyler Hallett.

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