Aaron Taylor Kuffner (born 1975, New York City) is an American conceptual artist living and working in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

Early life and education

Kuffner was born and raised in New York City. He attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in

Hyde Park, New York Hyde Park is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States, bordering the Hudson River north of Poughkeepsie. Within the town are the hamlets of Hyde Park, East Park, Staatsburg, and Haviland. Hyde Park is known as the hometown of Fra ...

and briefly studied

visual The visual system is the physiological basis of visual perception (the ability to detect and process light). The system detects, transduces and interprets information concerning light within the visible range to construct an image and buil ...

and

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

before dropping out and relocating to

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

in 1996. Kuffner is a trained painter and metal sculptor, a former street artist, theatre director, international DJ and music producer. Kuffner studied at the Institut Seni Inodenesia Yogyakarta, where he studied Karawitan and Ethnomusicology. While living in Indonesia he learned to play the Indonesian instrument,

Gamelan Gamelan (; ; , ; ) is the traditional musical ensemble, ensemble music of the Javanese people, Javanese, Sundanese people, Sundanese, and Balinese people, Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussion instrument, per ...

, which would prove instrumental to his future work.

Work

Kuffner is known for using sculpture, electronic music, installation, and engineering in his art. In 2008 Kuffner completed the Gamelatron, which "uses technology, sound, sculpture, and engineering to create a visceral experience based on acoustic resonance and robotic technology." The Gamelatron is made with the ancient Indonesian bronze gongs,

, that Kuffner has retrofitted with mechanical mallets and is controlled by micro-processors in each instrument. Kuffner work ties the old with the new, combining ancient instruments with new technology to create a previously unheard auditory experience.

"I see technology in a greater sense - not just digital technology, but anything from smelting bronze to machining metals - as something that humans always incorporate into our lives and in turns contributes to shaping our culture," said Kuffner. "Art has always been made from the tools and resources available to the artist. In this moment in history these are the tools that are available to me - so that is what I use."

Kuffner's work has primarily resided in the underground art scene with installation appearing in features for ''The New York Times'' and other publications. More recently his work has begun to reach a wider audience with the growth of the festival

Burning Man Burning Man is a week-long large-scale desert event focused on "community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance" held annually in the Western United States. The event's name comes from its ceremony on the penultimate night of the event: the ...

. Notably with the Gamelatron featured in the

Renwick Gallery The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum located in Washington, D.C. that displays American craft and decorative arts from the 19th to 21st century. The gallery is housed in a National Historic Landmark building that ...

at the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

for their show, "No Spectators: The Art of Burningman".

Exhibitions

Kuffner's installations have been exhibited by the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, California (2017); the Drawing Center, New York (2016); 56th Venice Biennale at the Palazzo Grimani Museum Venice (2015); The Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. (2013); and The Clocktower Gallery, New York (2012).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuffner, Aaron Living people 1975 births American conceptual artists