Biography

Rees Archibald (b.1972) studied saxophone and woodwind performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australia, before moving to Japan to further his studies on shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) in 1996.

While attending Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music he began working with electronics as a method of extending instrumental possibilities, and to create sonic environments to be explored through improvisation.

He graduated with a Masters degree in electronic music composition from Wesleyan University in the U.S.A. in 2002, where he worked with composers Ron Kuivila, Alvin Lucier and David Behrman. A large part of this work was in video art works which have their foundations in structural rhythmic processes found in music.

Rees' current research focus centers on an investigation of conscious states in performance. Originally based in instrumental musical performance his work is now moving towards devised physical movement blending sonic arts, installation, visual media, dance and Asian meditation systems.

He is active as a performer, composer and video artist, and has had work performed and shown in venues such as The Kitchen in New York City, ZKM/HfG in Germany, the Sydney Opera House, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, and the Emit/Time Festival in Bern, Switzerland.

Rees lives in the United Kingdom and currently lectures at Leeds Metropolitan University.