Biography
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 has worked with artists and organisations 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. He 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 project 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)
Education
David was given a start in the arts by Shopfront – a co-op for young people, by young people. He began as a trainee theatre technician, slowly shifting to the creative side of projects before being offered a lead installation artist role in Detours & Destinations (2010). This project was a collaboration with 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 learnt 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 a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Sound – Composition and Music Production) at the University of Wollongong. He focused on Pure Data patching (Greg Schiemer), improvisation, graphic notation (Houston Dunleavy, Stephen Ingham) and live performance (Tom Ellard). He volunteered with production company Signals, operating lighting for a number of touring bands passing through the UOW UniBar.
In 2008 David received First Class Honours from UOW for a thesis on motion tracking in art. The thesis involved historical research and creation of two works – Alternate Directive and Dance-o-matic Selecta. During this period he worked as a technician for Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, installing and operating sound, lighting and vision for touring theatre shows and gallery exhibitions.
David continues to take courses and industry workshops whenever possible. These include:
- TouchDesigner Intermediate Workshop Sydney – by Milan-based media artist Andrew Quinn (2018)
- Sound Systems: Design & Optimization with Bob McCarthy – by Meyer Sound (2014)
- TouchDesigner Workshop Melbourne – by Andrew Quinn (2014)
- Extron School of Emerging Technologies (Digital Only) course– by Extron (2013)