ross manning: reflex in waves

In August of 2017, Ross Manning opened his first major survey exhibition, Dissonant Rhythms, at Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art. As part of the exhibition a monograph and LP edition, titled Reflex In Waves, were prepared to celebrate this milestone. Reflex In Waves brings together a series of sonic approaches Manning has been developing for over a decade. Specifically, Manning's work is concerned with waves and the impacts of their resulting vibration. Quietly producing audio works out of his studio in Yeronga, on the south side of Brisbane city, Manning's works are based on a series of deeply personal instrument designs, tape manipulation, and other exploratory approaches. His instruments, which are often percussive, use harmonically related materials that are activated by motor-driven strings. The resulting sound is a chaotic but pulse-like cluster of harmony. Developing sets of uniquely pitched materials, Manning's instruments each maintain a distinct quality. No two instruments sound alike and although the way in which they are "performed" may be similar, the resulting sound is anything but familiar. "I have always been interested in how sound lives in spaces," Ross summarizes. "As I worked on this exhibition, I spent a great deal of time in my studio building instruments and exploring them. I recorded many, many hours of materials in this space and this collection of recordings is very much a summary of my sound practice to this moment." Dissonant Rhythms will tour Australian galleries for the next four years. The Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms exhibition, publication, tour, and Reflex In Waves are supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, and the IMA's Commissioners Circle. Ross Manning's practice spans experimental music, new technologies, and immersive installations that often involve the play of light. Recent solo and group exhibitions include: Why Not Ask Again?, 11th Shanghai Biennale, China; Set in Motion, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, New Zealand; Ross Manning, Carriageworks, Sydney, Australia; Device for Messaging Nothing, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, Australia; Colour Shift, Loop, Seoul, Korea (all 2016); Light Play, University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, Australia; GOMA Q, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia; Interplay, The National Museum of Modern And Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea; Imaginary Accord, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia; The Kaleidoscopic Turn, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia (all 2015); and You Imagine What you Desire, 19th Biennale of Sydney, Australia 2014.