Frontiers 2015: False Flag / True Mirror
Date and time: 22 Mar 2015
Location: Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire

“Phonically mining the pin point of paradox where new age systems of self-worth and improvement meet the harsh cash generating business creature of enforced self-confidence…”

False Flag / True Mirror was a residency at Birmingham Conservatoire investigating the modification of self-help tapes and playback by the use of reconstructed tape and block-baton bows. Starting as a workshop series, the focus was on the modification and usage of self-help tapes from the 1970s as a source material to comment on the effect, relevance and legacy these tapes have in today’s society and to investigate the change of mind set from these time periods.

Student volunteers were part of a creative research process looking at the context of source material and new ways of performing. They also got to experience the modification of tape players and how to invent new instruments from existing redundant sources, in particular the block bow tape player which was built specifically for this project.

The results were performed in a showcase at Frontiers Festival 2015.