Remembering Phill Niblock: A Legacy of Intermedia Art and Sound
Phill Niblock, the pioneering intermedia artist and celebrated composer—for decades a member of the Subtropics National Advisory Board—, left an indelible mark on the world of contemporary art before his recent passing.
Renowned for his innovative use of sound, film, and performance, Niblock’s work transcended traditional boundaries, inviting audiences into immersive experiences that challenged perceptions of time, space, and the very nature of art itself. His explorations of sonic texture and visual form resonated deeply within the realm of experimental art, making him a significant figure in the avant-garde community.
Among his many contributions, Niblock’s participation in the Subtropics Festivals and events in Miami showcased his ability to weave intricate narratives through audio-visual interplay. His many visits to Miami fostered a dialogue between diverse artistic expressions.
With this page Subtropics Organization joins our sister organization Cyland Foundation in celebrating Niblock’s multifaceted legacy by examining his impactful engagements with Subtropics, highlighting key moments from his performances, and delving into the wealth of audio-visual material archived from these events. Through this exploration, we honor a visionary artist whose work continues to inspire and provoke thought, ensuring that his influence will reverberate long into the future.
1989/05/12
SUBTRIPICS 1 | MUKAVIZATION: JOSEPH CELLI, reeds
Miami-Dade Public Library, Main Branch
PROGRAM
TRABAJANDO
Phill Niblock, film | Florida Premiere
1990/01/18
NEW VISIONS FESTIVAL | CONCERT 1
Guest artist, Reynold Weidenaar
Miami-Dade Public Library, Main Branch
PROGRAM
MAGIC SUN
Phill Niblock, film
1990/04/11
SUBTROPICS 2 | OPENING: PHILL NIBLOCK
Opus Art Studios, Coral Gables, Florida
Video/Sound Installation | Florida Premiere
2-channel video/4 channel sound
1996/04/04
SUBTROPICS 8 | JERRY HUNT + PHILL NIBLOCK
Miami-Dade College Centre Gallery
CHINA
Phill Noblock, film + music
music: Early Winter
on pre-recorded 8 channel tape
Susan Sternger, flute
SUNSETS | World Premiere
music
first performance with 8 channel mix
Joseph Celli, English horn
2009/07/20
SOUND
a sound exhibition curated by Gustavo Matamoros
The Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach
AOMORI WATER (1998) | 15:36
Aomori Water is a sound collage piece made in 1998, in Aomori Japan. I was in a residency with other artists. A Japanese sculptor was making a round house and wanted a sound piece to play in it. I recorded some very gentle waves lapping the beach, for the first part. And a very small mountain stream, flowing, for the second part. I layered 8 tracks. This was the first work that I did in ProTools. — Phill Niblock
BELLS + TIMPS (1986) | 5:30
Bells & Timps was made using church bells in Gent Belgium, recorded by Godfried Willem Raes of Logos Foundation, in 1986. I modified the time by stretching vastly, and some changes in pitch as well.
GRIND (1999) | 16:02
Grind is one of three works from Sound Works. These are environmental sounds represented through loudspeakers.
2013/04/01
LISTENING GALLERY | PHILL NIBLOCK: AOMORI WATER
800 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
AOMORI WATER (1998) | 15:36
presented as a public sound art installation
Aomori Water is a sound collage piece made in 1998, in Aomori Japan. I was in a residency with other artists. A Japanese sculptor was making a round house and wanted a sound piece to play in it. I recorded some very gentle waves lapping the beach, for the first part. And a very small mountain stream, flowing, for the second part. I layered 8 tracks. This was the first work that I did in ProTools. — Phill Niblock
2021/09/19
SUBTROPICS 25 | SUBTROPICS INTERMEDIA
Deering Estate Blackbox Theater, Miami
TWO OCTAVES + A FIFTH (1980) | 20:27
For this edition of Subtropics, we presented an acousmatic playback of Phill Niblock’s Two Octaves and a Fifth in absentia, featuring our guest artist, composer/oboist Joseph Celli who introduced the piece and asnwered questions from the audience.
2022/04/14
PHILL NIBLOCK | KATHERINE LIBEROVSKAYA | GUSTAVO MATAMOROS
DeeringEstate Blackbox Theater, Miami
Pioneering minimalist composer, filmmaker and director of Experimental Intermedia Foundation in New York City since 1985, Phill Niblock, presents an hour-long set of his seminal work rarely experienced by Miami audiences. This special evening will begin with a shorter set featuring Phill’s field recordings, live video by Katherine Liberovskaya and spatialized in sound sculpting by Gustavo Matamoros.
PROGRAM
SET 1
THREE-WAY | 30:00
an intermedia improvisation
Live Video by Katherine Liberovskaya, with
Live mixing of audio pieces by Phill Niblock
Live audio and spatialization by Gustavo Matamoros
In this live set Niblock mixes between audio pieces based on diverse field recordings which are very different from his music compositions. Liberovskaya mixes video with Jitter/Max/MSP from a vast personal database of clips shot over the past fifteen years.
While Matamoros introduces an ever morphing sound entity that enters quietly, moves across the theater space, and exits at different time intervals.
SET 2
FILMS + MUSIC | 60:00
by Phill Niblock
Three screens of films from The Movement of People Working series from the countries of China, Japan, Mexico, Peru, etc.
Music includes Browner, Ronet, Vlada BC and Bag