A fan-blog for Brian Duffy, his Modified Toy Orchestra, and related endeavours.

"Brian Duffy, award winning sound artist and creator of the Modified Toy Orchestra, has been at the forefront of a world wide underground movement called circuit bending which involves rescuing childrens electronic toys from car boot sales, and converting them into new strange and wonderfully sophisticated musical instruments. Taking them apart, he finds new connections hidden within each toys circuits that reveal new sounds, exposing the surplus value of redundant technology. The toys are then reassembled including switches and dials with which to control this surplus value. The results of this process can be shockingly beautiful, funny and extreme and have led to Brian being labelled a genius, a madman, and a national treasure."

22 Dec 09
Brian Duffy : Optophonic Lunaphone :: Ikon Gallery British artist and musician, Brian Duffy presented a unique live performance that took place under the light of a full moon. Using a “Lunaphone,” a musical instrument invented by Duffy and made of specially adapted telescopes which collect lightwaves from the night sky, an ensemble of operators slowly explored and revealed the celestial soundscapes.Translating the lightwaves into sound through a mixer and sequencer, the performance created an unprecedented collaboration between the viewer and the earth’s atmosphere. Brian Duffy : Optophonic Lunaphone :: Ikon Gallery

British artist and musician, Brian Duffy presented a unique live performance that took place under the light of a full moon. Using a “Lunaphone,” a musical instrument invented by Duffy and made of specially adapted telescopes which collect lightwaves from the night sky, an ensemble of operators slowly explored and revealed the celestial soundscapes.Translating the lightwaves into sound through a mixer and sequencer, the performance created an unprecedented collaboration between the viewer and the earth’s atmosphere.