CVJanek Schaefer 'Architect of Foundsoundscapes'

Janek was born in England to Polish and Canadian parents in 1970. While studying architecture at the Royal College of Art [RCA annual prize], he recorded the fragmented noises of a sound activated dictaphone travelling overnight through the Post Office. That work, titled 'Recorded Delivery' [1995] was made for the 'Self Storage' exhibition [Time Out critics choice] with one time postman Brian Eno and Artangel. Since then the multiple aspects of sound became his focus, resulting in many releases, installations, soundtracks for exhibitions, and concerts using his self built/invented record players with electroacoutisc collage. The 'Tri-phonic Turntable' [1997] is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the 'World's Most Versatile Record Player'. He has performed, lectured and exhibited widely throughout Europe [Sonar, Tate Modern, ICA], USA/Canada, [The Walker, XI, Mutek, Princeton], Japan, and Australia [Sydney Opera House].

The context of each idea is central to its development and resolution. His concerts and installations explore the spatial and architectural aspect that sound can evoke and the twisting of technology. Hybrid analogue and digital techniques are used to manipulate field recordings with live modified vinyl and found sound to create evocative and involving environments. His CD 'Above Buildings' [2000] was released on Fat Cat to considerable praise, [The Guardian CD of the week]. He formed 'Comae' the improvisational electroacoustic duo with Robert Hampson [Main] in 1999, and has collaborations in progress with Philip Jeck [CD using Turkish vinyl] and Gino Zardo [NYC photographer]. Janek runs his own label [audiOh!Recordings] and web site [audiOh.com] as well as releasing work with Asphodel, Sub Rosa, Staalplaat, Hot Air, Sirr, Rhiz, Alluvial and Diskono. He now operates as a full time sound artist/sound designer/musician and composer from the audiOh!Room in London.

Janek was selected as the 'Sound Designer of the Year' by Creative Review in 1999, and was awarded the 'McKnight Composer in Residence' for the American Composers Forum, USA 2002/3. He won an 'Honorary Mention' [Above Buildings, 2001] and an 'Award of Distinction' [Skate, 2004] at the Prix Ars Electronica competition.

History [For comprehensive sound events CV see Audiography]

Education:
1994-96 MA RCA [Architecture]: Royal College of Art [RCA Annual Prize - specialising in architecture and sound]
1990-94 BA hons [Architecture]: Manchester Metropolitan University [1st Class]

Awards:
2005 'Jury Selection' at the Bourges 32nd International Competition of Electroacoustic Music & Sonic Art
2004 'Award of Distinction' Prix Ars Electronica music competition, Linz, Austria.
2004 Solo 'Guinness World Record' holder for breaking the most number of vinyl records.
2002/3 'McKnight Composer in Residence' for the The American Composers Forum USA.
2002 Guinness World Record holder for 'The Worlds Most Versatile Record Player'.
2001 'Honorary Mention' at Prix Ars Electronica music competition, Linz, Austria.
2000 The Guardian 'CD of the week' for 'Above Buildings' ['On the Edge' section 22nd Dec 2000] .
1999 Selected as 'Sound Designer of the Year' for Creative Review Magazine's annual exhibition, London.
1996 'Royal College of Art Old Students Association Award' annual prize for an RCA MA degree portfolio.
1995 Commendation for 'Audio & Image' dissertation, Royal College of Art.
1994 Distinction for '6 Elements of Installation' disertation at Manchester Metropolitan University.
1991 First prize 'Pragmatic structure design' & 'Bird house design' [1st yr departmental competitions].
1991 First prize in RIBA photographic competition at Viewpoint Photography Gallery, Salford.

Exhibitions:
2005 'Optical and Kinetic Art 1950-1975' Strasbourg Museum of Art installation of Skate and concert
2004 'Sons et Lumières' exhibition at thel Pompidou Centre. Includes one of my compositions.
2004 'Weather Report' Installation using MP3 mobile phone floating from helium balloons, ISEA, Tallinn Art Hall, Estonia.
2004 'Love Lounge & Weather Report' Installation/performance on Valentines night, The Walker Art Centre, USA.
2003 'Lisbon Biennale 2003' Audience interactive display of Tri-Phonic Turntable at Experimenta exhibition.
2003 'Love Song' installation at Niewe Vide, )Toon)4 festival, Haarlem, Holland [in a shared space with Philip Jeck].
2003 'Skate [in a lift]' Sound and reactive light installation in an industrial lift at Kulturhauset, Stockholm.
2003 'Pulse Field' Extensive sound art exhibition, Georgia State University, USA. Includes my music and vinyl products.
2003 'Sound Art?' Selected records shown in exhibition of Vinyl Art , Floerence Loewry Bookshop, Paris.
2002 'Bandwagon Jumping' Exhibition [inc. Recorded Delivery 7"] at the International 3 Gallery, Manchester.
2002 'Grooves' Selected projects shown in exhibition of Vinyl Art at Huddersfield Art Gallery.
2002 'Skate [in the Attic]' Sound, reactive light and turntable installation at Vooruit Arts Centre in Ghent, Belgium.
2002 'New Adventures in audiOh!!!' Comic Strip design for the D-fuse gallery page in The Wire magazine.
2001 'Skate' Sound, video and reactive light installation at Triskel Arts in Cork Ireland.
2001 'The Rumble' Exhibition of the Twin Turntable and On/Off LP, Royal Society of British Sculptors, London.
2000 'Return To Sender' Sound activated tape recorder installation, The Light House Gallery, Wolverhampton.
1999 'OMA Rem Koolhaas:Living' Soundtrack's and graphic design, ICA, London.
1999 'Car Free London' Soundtrack for exhibition in the OXO tower with the Urban Salon, London.
1999 'The World of dR MM' Soundtrack for video by de Rijke Marsh Morgan for 'New British Architects' touring exhibition.
1998 'Masquerade' Design & soundtrack for group fashion/art show disguised as shop in Brixton Market for LPT.
1998 'The Ideal Home' Soundtrack for the 'Oyster House' by Nigel Coates at the Ideal Home Exhibition.
1998 'Architecture Foundation Roadshow' Voiceover/graphic design for London community action initiative.
1997 'The Silver Dream Machine' Soundtrack/video for group show in a converted Citroen CX car. Watershed, Bristol.
1997 'Tri-phonic Revolutions' World Premier performance with the Tri-Phonic Turntable at the Urban Salon, London.
1997 'Portable Architecture' Commissioned soundtrack for show at the RIBA, London.
1997 'Fused' 3D/sound /installation. Collaboration with Pierre d'Avoine & Dianna Burrell at the RIBA, London.
1997 'Public Views 2' Soundtrack for Group show with the Urban Salon, Architecture Foundation, London.
1996 'Objects of Our Time' Soundtrack for world touring group show, The Crafts Council, London.
1996 'Uleybeast Heard' 3d/Sound installation at Prema Arts Centre, Uley.
1995 'Secret Installation' Momentary 3D/photo installation, Lisson Gallery Summer Show.
1995 'Self Storage' Recorded Delivery installation with Artangel & Brian Eno. Acorn Self Storage, London.
1992 'The Boddies Mix' One-man photography show of the Boddingtons Manchester Festival
1991 'Neighbours' Viewpoint gallery, Salford [1st prize photography]
1989 'Machine Intelligence' Exhibition of chair at Young Unknowns gallery, The Cut, London.

Selected Media highlights:
2005 Interview on Canadian CBC radio 3 for the seires 'The Wire' the influence of electricity on music
2005 Full page photo and interview in The Scotland on Sunday glossy mag for Shuffle Mode launch
2003 1hr radio special inc Weather Report on 'Some Assembley Required' on Radio K, Minneapolis.
2003 Broadcast in collaboration with FX Randomiz shared with Herbie Hancock on WDR3 Cologne.
2003 Photograph published in London's Metro newspaper read by everyone with a job there!
2003 Blow Up magazine, Italy double page articlle.
2003 BBC Radio 3 broadcast of ICA 'Cut & Splice' concert/interview.
2002 Radio Canada, broadcast of Mutek concert recording.
2002 Gonzo Circus magazine, Belgium, double page interview.
2002 Fear Drop magazine, France, three page article + exclusive track on CD.
2002 BBC World Service 'The Music Biz' programme interview at the Sonar Festival
2002 Radio 4 'Today' programme interview for the Turntable Hell Tour.
2002 Leonardo Music Journal [MIT Press] publication of in depth autobiographical essay.
2001 Grooves magazine two page interview/design.
2000 The Guardian CD of the week 22/12/00, [Above Buildings].
2000 The Wire one page interview, issue 201.
1999 The Wire [Photo + live review]
1998 Artists Newsletter + Blueprint [Tri-phonic] + Channel 4 News [dR Mm voiceover].
1997 The Times, The Wire + Architects Journal [Fused].
1997 Blueprint [The Brit Pack!] + Building Design [Public views 2].
1995 'Kaleidoscope' Radio 4 [Self Storage interview].
1989 The Guardian [Machine intelligence].

Work Experience & Lectures:
2004 - present Full time freelance Sound Artist
2004 Visitng Lecturer at RCA [Architecture MA] and Central St.Martins [Audio/Visual BA]
2002-2005 Visiting Lecturer, Brighton University, Digital Music/Sonic Design BA + Music and Visual Art BA.
2003 Lecture at TN Probe, Tokyo as part of the 'Sapce Invaders' exhibition.
2000-2002 Urban Salon architectural assistant [BBH Ad agency re-design 1st place].
2000 Graphic Design of Adverts for National Press and business Logo for Personam Search and Selection.
2000 Photoshop freelance image processor for Ehouse + Desktop Personnel agency.
2000 Exhibition maker/technician for Harris Blyth, London.
2000 Presentation of 'Comae' with Robert Hampson at The Chicago Arts Institute.
1999 Visiting Lecturer at London College of Printing HND in Sound Design course.
1999 Tutor in QuarkXpress to intermediate level at Hoxton Bibio-tech.
1999 Exhibition designer for 'Imaginaria' digital art exhibition at the ICA. [won via competitive pitch].
1999/2001 Bi-annual lecture given to London College of Printing HND in Sound Design course.
1999 Lecture to music students at Goldsmiths College, London.
1997-1999 Senior architectural/graphic designer, de Rijke Marsh Morgan [Short listed Concept House competition].
1997-1998 Branson Coates Architecture: freelance designer [1st place Lisbon Expo 98 competition].
1996-1997 Freelance work for Zaha Hadid [RA bridge model] Pierre d'Avoine [graphics] Alex de Rijke [graphics].
1996-2002 Soundtracks for exhibitions designed by The Urban Salon.
1996-2003 Editor & graphic designer of the '8th Floor Diary' for Nigel Coates [RCA publication].
1996 Exhibition graphic design for 'The Regeneration Game': Alsop & Stormer Gallery.
1996 Art Director's assistant. Photo shoot of Tricky for 'Detour' magazine [USA] by David Lachapelle.
1996 Lecture at the Architectural Association, 'City Sonics vol 1'.
1995 'Art Bar' refurbishment RCA [manufacture & detail design].
1995 Exhibition Designer 'Make Believe' art curation show, RCA.
1992-1993 Sami Mousawi Architects, Manchester [1st place Mosque of Muscat competition].
1992 Assisted the foundation of Expressions Gallery, Manchester.
1991-3 Principal photographer for 'Pulp' magazine, Manchester Polytechnic.