Canilla: Hemo

Kunsthall Stavanger and Nymusikk present Hemo  – an experimental performance by and with sound artist Canilla .

At the center is a newly built instrument – designed as a heart outside the body. This artificial heart creates music through air, pressure, pseudoblood and algorithms. Together with accordion and live programming, a soundscape is created where the biological and the technological meet.

The work is inspired by the novel The Red Star (1908) by Russian philosopher and scientist Alexander Bogdanov. In this sci-fi tale, set on Mars, blood transfusions are used not only to heal, but to share emotions and rejuvenate society. Blood becomes a symbol of community and solidarity.

Bogdanov was a thinker who combined politics, science, and fiction. He believed that sharing blood could strengthen social cohesion—an idea he also experimented with in real life as a means of bodily rejuvenation and social unity. Bogdanov's ideas intersect with speculative fiction and political philosophy. He imagined a post-human future where collective labor unites nature and technology. On Mars, the inhabitants possess advanced computer networks and calculation systems that mirror modern climate science. Although Bogdanov was later rejected by the Soviet authorities, his ideas remain relevant today, particularly in the fields of ecology and technology.

In Hemo, Canilla (Axel Barrat-Due) plays music for his artificial heart. He uses sensors that register air and pressure in the circulating pseudo-blood, using pneumatics in the form of electromagnetic solenoids, industrial fans and breast pumps. The result is a living and sensual work in the form of a kind of auditory circuit.

Hemo is a series of instruments in which Barratt-Due explores blood and fluid with pneumatics and breathing. The first work in this series was designed as a commissioned work for artist Alwynne Pritchard.

Doors open: 7:00 PM

Concert: 8:00 PM

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Nymusikk and Kunsthall Stavanger present Hemo – an experimental performance by and with Canilla.

At the center of the performance is a newly built instrument – shaped like a heart outside the body. This artificial heart generates music using air, pressure, pseudo-blood, and algorithms. Combined with accordion and live programming, it creates a soundscape where the biological and the technological meet.

The work is inspired by the novel The Red Star (1908) by Russian philosopher and scientist Alexander Bogdanov. In this sci-fi story, set on Mars, blood transfusions are used not only for healing but to share emotions and rejuvenate society. Blood becomes a symbol of community and solidarity.

Bogdanov was a thinker who combined politics, science, and fiction. He believed that sharing blood could strengthen social unity – an idea he also experimented with in real life as a means of physical rejuvenation and societal cohesion. Bogdanov's ideas cross speculative fiction and political philosophy. He envisioned a post-human future where collective labor unites nature and technology. On Mars, the inhabitants possess advanced computer networks and calculation systems that reflect modern climate science. Although later rejected by Soviet authorities, his ideas remain relevant today, especially in the context of ecology and technology.

In Hemo , Canilla (Axel Barratt-Due) plays music for their artificial heart. They use sensors that register air and pressure in the circulating pseudoblood, employing pneumatics in the form of electromagnetic solenoids, industrial fans, and breast pumps. The result is a living and sensory work in the form of a kind of auditory circuit.

Hemo   is a series of instruments through which Barratt-Due explores blood and fluid using pneumatics and breath. The first work in this series was commissioned by the artist Alwynne Pritchard.

Doors open: 7pm

Concert: 8pm