Headlands Center for the Arts

Artist Statement

Since 1988, I have been using the cassette Walkman for making field recordings, which I use for composing, performing, and making visual artworks. I have recorded more than 4000 tapes over the last quarter century. I consider these recordings to be memories, and not just sounds. I’m interested in essence or architecture of human memory and try to examine how it impacts to our daily life and art making.

While At Headlands

The main project I’d like to pursue at Headlands is to organize and archive my cassette recordings for creating new compositions and performances. I have recorded more than 4000 tapes over the last quarter century. But in reality, I have only used approximately 20% of my recordings, and I haven’t played back many tapes even once. Being away from the hectic touring schedule and my daily life in New York, I am hoping the Headlands residency, which is located in an isolated place, allows me to concentrate on this top priority of my work.

Selected Work

Cassette Memories in La Gouette d’Or, Paris, 2012.

Akio Suzuki & Aki Onda “ma ta ta bi”, 2013. Performance at Black Buddah in Tuned City, Brussels, Belgium.

“I Tell a Story of Bodies that Change,” 2012. From the album South of the Border Cassette Memories Vol. 3

From album South of the Border Cassette Memories Vol. 3.