XOPHER DAVIDSON began his experiments in electronic
sound from a basis in painting, film, and installation art, mixed with a
long-time interest in electronics. While in primary school he learned to
construct simple circuits, removing the components from old televisions
and playing with step-up transformers. In 1985 the naively extremist project
Jesus Wept was formed by James Chandler, John Hong, Will B. Gavin, and Davidson,
beginning an era of tape manipulation. An electronic side project with James
Chandler
resulted in the infamous cassette release _Climatron_. While attending school
in Richmond, Virginia, Davidson completed the short b/w films _Hess_ and
_Positioning Device_, which featured a soundtrack of modulated full-frequency
noise. He also started work on the trilogy of recorded sound pieces titled
"Reflector," "Primer," and "Number," which
was completed in 1990. Also during this time he performed with the noise
fusion group 45-102, who demonstrated an advanced position on sound with
one public appearance. Presenting his work in numerous shows, he co-curated
a major post-constructivist show at the Henry
Street Gallery. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and
sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1991. In 1992 he moved
to Oakland, California, creating the seminal space Exhibit < >. In
this storefront located by a freeway onramp, he presented an ongoing installation
of signs and diagrams which his paintings had evolved into. Listening here
to the rumblings of the overhead freeway, it became obvious that the issue
of sound needed to be (re)addressed. A year later he began work at the Center
for Contemporary Music at Mills College in Oakland, California. Here he
performed and recorded sound in many forms, presenting three concerts of
electronic music while working on his MFA in electronic music. At this time
he constructed a trilogy of experimental films at the film studios of CCAC,
to be overlayed with sound developed at the CCM recording studio. Davidson
currently performs with the live electronic groups Citizen Band and Circular
Firing Squad. His work appears on several compilations, and continuous experimentation
at his home workshop, the treatment center, has resulted in three unreleased
recordings: _antimatter_, _monuments of superstition_, and _antimatter vs.
antimatter_. |
Artist
Bios