Robert Davidson

Robert Davidson will craft a unique soundscape comprised of double bass with looping pedals to build up layers of sound, along with piano and electronic sounds.

Dr Davidson is a prolific composer, bassist, lecturer and founder and artistic director of Topology. He studied composition with Terry Riley in California before completing a composition PhD at the University of Queensland. He previously studied South Indian vocal music in Kerala, India. Davidson’s compositions are regularly performed, recorded and broadcast around the world, in venues including New York’s Lincoln Center, Sydney’s Opera House and London’s Barbican. All of Australia’s professional orchestras and many leading soloists and ensembles have commissioned and performed his works. With Topology he has released 14 albums, and has directed numerous artistic collaborations with creators of many varied cultural and stylistic backgrounds, including The Saints, Geoffrey Rush, Terry Riley, The Brodsky Quartet, Katie Noonan, Kate Miller-Heidke, Christine Anu, TaikOz, William Barton and many more. He has scored three documentary films: Memory Tree (Juniper/ABC), Joyride (Fifty Fifty/ABC, 2018), and Strong female lead (Northern Pictures/SBS, 2021).

Dr Davidson is the head of composition at the University of Queensland and his research is in artificial intelligence and music, music theory, collaboration, music literacy and music education.

Stories

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  • Watch

    Film In Conversation/ Tsai Ming-liang

    As part of Asia Pacific Triennial Cinema, Taiwan-based Malaysian filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang joined us for an Australian-exclusive in-person In Conversation event. Celebrated as one of the greatest living directors and a key figure in the second wave of Taiwan New Cinema, Tsai has re-shaped understandings of the artform through his feature films (including the Golden Lion-winning 'Vive L’Amour' 1994 and the ghostly masterpiece 'Goodbye, Dragon Inn' 2003), his innovative video works and his mesmerising 'Walker' series. Tsai Ming-liang discusses his acclaimed career, his long-standing creative partnership with Lee Kang-sheng and his singular vision of cinema. Recorded at the Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art Sun 1 Dec 2024 Moderated by Robert Hughes, Associate Curator, Australian Cinémathèque Presenting Partner: Crumpler 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 30 Nov 2024 – 27 Apr 2025 Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Thumbnail Tsai Ming-liang Photograph by Chang Jhong-Yuan Courtesy: Homegreen Films Production still from 'Goodbye, Dragon Inn' 2003 Director: Tsai Ming-liang Courtesy: Homegreen Films © Tsai Ming-liang Cinema that takes you places Australian Cinémathèque Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia © Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, 2024 https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au #qagoma
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    Film In Conversation/ Kamila Andini

    Indonesian writer-director Kamila Andini talks about the characters she crafts in her films and the stories she is passionate to bring to the big screen. Kamila Andini’s films explore major sociocultural topics – such as gender equality and environmental issues – in a way that is fantastical, poetic and uniquely her own. Her stories draw from Indonesian art traditions including costume, dance and theatre regularly focussing on women navigating cultural restrictions and expectations. Her films masterfully explore the narrative through nuanced relationships between parents and children, husband and wife, siblings and young love. Recorded at the Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art Sat 8 Feb 2025 Moderated by Australian director Sari Braithwaite Presenting Partner: Crumpler 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 30 Nov 2024 – 27 Apr 2025 Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Thumbnail Kamila Andini Production still from 'The Seen and Unseen' 2017 Dir: Kamila Andini Courtesy: Cercamon Cinema that takes you places Australian Cinémathèque Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia © Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, 2024 https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au #qagoma
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    Three exciting figures of contemporary Asia Pacific Cinema

    As part of Asia Pacific Triennial Cinema, the Australian Cinémathèque at the Gallery of Modern Art is showcasing films by three of the most innovative and exciting figures of contemporary cinema: Tsai Ming-liang, Kamila Andini and Ryusuke Hamaguchi. Ahead of our upcoming In Conversation event with composer Eiko Ishibashi and producer Satoshi Takata — presented in conjunction with the ‘Ryusuke Hamaguchi’ and ‘GIFT’ audiovisual performances — revisit our fascinating, career-spanning discussions with Tsai Ming-liang and Kamila Andini about their lives, filmmaking philosophies and creative practices. The In Conversation with Eiko Ishibashi and Satoshi Takata takes place on Sunday 27 April at 1.30pm. It is free, with no bookings required, so we hope to see you there. Watch | In Conversation with Tsai Ming-liang Taiwan-based Malaysian filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang is celebrated as one of the greatest living directors and a key figure in the second wave of Taiwan New Cinema. Watch | In Conversation with Kamila Andini Indonesian writer-director Kamila Andini talks about the characters she crafts in her films and the stories she is passionate to bring to the big screen. Live Music: GIFT A live score by Eiko Ishibashi Film by Ryusuke Hamaguchi 6.30 pm, Thursday 24 April 2025 3.00 pm, Saturday 26 April 2025 Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art Ticketed In Conversation Eiko Ishibashi & Satoshi Takata 1.30 – 2.30 pm, Sunday 27 April 2025 Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art Free Watch more Film In Conversations
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    Film In Conversation/ Jeremy Leatinu’u & Ian Powell

    Jeremy Leatinu’u and his cinematic collaborator Ian Powell explore the development of their collaboration and how, across the years, they have deeply refined their filmic language. Jeremy Leatinu’u’s representation in the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial, highlights the artists growing interest and confidence working with moving image, tracing the movement from using video to document performances to exploring cinema as a storytelling medium. Adapting short film conventions, Leatinu’u's recent works present slow, intimate studies of people and places inviting audiences to reflect on poetic interconnections across ecologies and the relationship that exists between memory and storytelling. Recorded at the Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art Sat 30 Nov 2024 Moderated by José Da Silva, Director, UNSW Galleries, Sydney. This project supported by Creative New Zealand 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 30 Nov 2024 – 27 Apr 2025 Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Jeremy Leatinu'u Courtesy: The artist Production still from 'When the Moon Sees the Sun' 2019 Courtesy: The artist © Jeremy Leatinu'u Cinema that takes you places Australian Cinémathèque Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia © Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, 2024 https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au #qagoma

Production Credits

Regen (Rain)

  • Directors: Mannus Franken, Joris Ivens
  • Script: Mannus Franken, Joris Ivens
  • Cinematographer: Joris Ivens
  • Editor: Joris Ivens
  • Print Source: The European Foundation Joris Ivens
  • Rights: Tamasa Distribution
  • Shooting Format: 35mm
  • Screening Format: 35mm, DCP
  • Year: 1929
  • Runtime: 12 minutes
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Language: No dialogue
  • Sound: Mono
  • Colour: Black & White

...à Valparaiso

  • Director: Joris Ivens
  • Script: Chris Marker
  • Cinematographer: Joris Ivens
  • Editor: Jean Ravel
  • Print Source: Tamasa Distribution
  • Rights: Tamasa Distribution
  • Year: 1963
  • Runtime: 24 minutes
  • Countries: Chile, France
  • Language: French
  • Subtitles: English
  • Sound: Mono
  • Colour: Black & White

La Seine a Rencontré Paris (The Seine Meets Paris)

  • Director: Joris Ivens
  • Script: Joris Ivens, Jaques Prévert
  • Based on: the poem of the same name by Jaques Prévert
  • Cinematographer: André Dumaitre
  • Editor: Gisèle Adelin
  • Print Source: Tamasa Distribution
  • Rights: Tamasa Distribution
  • Shooting Format: 35mm
  • Screening Format: 35mm
  • Year: 1957
  • Runtime: 29 minutes
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Subtitles: English
  • Sound: Mono
  • Colour: Black & White
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