Richard Byers
b 1974, Melbourne, Australia

A graduate of Industrial Design from the University of Canberra, with 12 years professional working experience as Concept & Creative Director for a leading design company. He is now a practicing new media artist, mixing drawing, painting & sculpture with light and video projections, and incorporating sound, movement & data interactivity. Human interaction both of the performers and the audience is a priority of his practice as it enriches everyone’s experience. His work is presented through live improvised performance, installations & exhibitions. Richard attempts to express and discover subtle and intimate visual rhythms by engaging a connection with human rhythm, dance and behaviour. Since 2002 his projects have been featured across many diverse spaces including clubs, museums, galleries, abandoned structures and concert studios.

Education:

1993 – 1997 BA Industrial Design – University of Canberra

Professional Work:

1996 – 2008 12 years experience at Design + Industry (Sydney, Australia) as Digital Concept Artist and Creative Director.

Selected Artistic works and performances:

2010 –
Resident at The Edge – Digital Culture Centre, The State Library of Queensland – Brisbane

2009 – 2010
sound.transmission.light – Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney – Interactive exhibition and live music performance
BlackBlackWhite @NNY (music event) – Tokyo

2008
Video montage installations surrounding Sydney Opera House Reeldance Sydney Festival ‘08 – Sydney,

2003 & 2007
Performance Video artist for the Sydney Festival bar (DJ Rupture & Jazzanova) Sydney

2006
Performance Video artist for Sydney Festival ‘06, Reeldance. The Studio, Sydney Opera House – Sydney

2005
AV performance with Sub Bass Snarl for Bill Viola (USA) exhibition at the Australian National Gallery – Canberra
Cockatoo Island Festival – VJ for the Frigid Stage – Sydney
AV Performance with Sub Bass Snarl for Kiss of the Beast @ Queensland Art Gallery – Brisbane

2004
VJ on tour with Couchblip! Records artists, Robokoneko, Disjunction Reunion & Himuro Yoshiteru – Japan

2003 – 2004 Performance video artist for Skylounge at the National Museum of Australia – Canberra

2003 – 2004 Performance Video artist at Sound Summit/Electrofringe Newcastle & The Studio, Sydney Opera House

2002 – 2008 VJ for various artists including Amon Tobin, Kid Koala, RJD2, DJ Rupture, Jazzanova, Funkstörung and others

2002 – 2006 Resident video artist for the music club, Frigid – Sydney

Solo Exhibitions:

2009
Visual Rhythms – Richard Byers – Fries Gallery, Mitte Berlin – An exploration in Structure, Line and Light

2008
Kudanshita Terrace Remixed – Tokyo – Improvised film remixing, dance & music installation

Group Exhibitions:

2010
Temporary View of Berlin – Showcase of 20 international artists working in Berlin – Sydney

2009

Traces – Berlin October – 9 international artists showcase
Nine on the Line – Berlin August – 9 international artists showcase
Rooftops Open Studios – Berlin May – 8 international artists showcase

Awards:

2010
4 month Residency at The Edge – Digital Culture Centre – Brisbane