David Kirkpatrick is based in Western Sydney, Australia. He is inspired by international/local sharing of art, perception and energy of place. His practice crosses sound composition, live visuals, performance and installation. He is a founding member of Murasaki Penguin with dancer/choreographer Anna Kuroda.
Recent projects include Window performances at the TOYOTA Chorography Award Japan (2016) and Dance In Asia Japan (2015), building projections for the IlluminARTe Wollondilly Festivals Australia (2017-15) and China on-set TouchDesigner operator for feature film Pacific Rim 2, due for release in 2018.
Accolades include Australia-Japan Foundation (DFAT) funding (2016), Wellington LUX festival installation funding (2015), Australia Council for the Arts [OYEA (2012), Digital Culture funding (2010), ArtStart (2009)] and a Fellowship of Australian Composers Award (2007). David graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2008 with a BCA First Class Honours (Sound – Composition and Music Production).
David has worked with artists and organisation including Keisuke Takahashi, Khaled Sabsabi, Vic McEwan, Nicholas Hope, Grant Moxom, Alexis Mailles, Toby Knyvett, Nibroll, ST Spot, Shopfront, CuriousWorks, Heaps Decent, BYDS, PYT, ATYP, MOD Productions, Ramus, The Pulse, Just Pixels, Sydney Opera House, as well as schools and councils. David mentors emerging artists and has experience on various arts panels and boards.
For a 2 page CV see David Kirkpatrick WebCV.pdf
Thank you to the following organisations for their much-appreciated support
- Australia Council for the Arts
The following projects have been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Citylights～街の灯 – Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists Commission (2012)
Detours & Destinations Installation – Digital Culture Fund (2010)
Laying the foundations to make a living as a sound and multimedia artist – ArtStart Grant (2009) - Australia-Japan Foundation (DFAT)
Murasaki Penguin’s Window at the TOYOTA Choreography Award 2016 was supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2016) - TOYOTA Japan
TOYOTA Chorography Award finalist funding (2016) - Wellington LUX Festival, New Zealand
Shima for Wellington installation funding (2015)
- Steep Slope Studio, Japan
Window development residency (2015) - Ausdance NSW
Window and Depth Dance Artist In Residence (DAIR) residencies (2014 and 2015) - Brand X
Depth Performing Arts Residency (2014) - Underbelly Arts Festival, Australia
Shima project funding (2011) - Screen Development Australia
Full subsidy to attend The Australian Network for Art and Technology’s (ANAT) Dome Lab (2010) - NSW Government
Funding to create Threshold Live – a concert by emerging Australian sound and multimedia artists (2007)
Origin Story
David was born in 1987. He grew up in the St George area of Sydney, Australia and was given a start as a theatre technician by Shopfront, an arts co-op for young people, by young people. He slowly shifted to the artistic side of Shopfront’s projects before being offered a lead installation artist role in Detours & Destinations (2010), a collaboration between Shopfront, Sydney Opera House, Heaps Decent and the Department of Juvenile Justice, involving young people from Lomandra School, Miimali Aboriginal Community Association and Fairfield Intensive English Centre. During his time at Shopfront David learned from artists and technicians including T.J. Eckleberg, Michael ‘Meem’ Moebus, Simon Wise, Ian Bowie, Katja Handt, Joey Ruigrok van der Werven and Stephen Hawker.
From 2005 – 2007 David studied sound composition and music production at the University of Wollongong, focusing on Pure Data patching (with Greg Schiemer), improvisation and graphic notation (Houston Dunleavy, Stephen Ingham) and live performance (Tom Ellard). During this time Signals offered David the chance to operate lighting for a number of rock and hip-hop bands passing through the UOW UniBar.
In 2008 David was awarded First Class Honours for his thesis on motion tracking in art, involving the creation of two works, Alternate Directive and Dance-o-matic Selecta. He also began working as a technician at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, installing and operating sound, lighting and vision for touring theatre shows and gallery exhibitions.