Overview
John Was is a composer, sound artist, and music theorist. He produces music for a wide range of experiences, and creates sound sculptures, installations and audiovisual pieces bridging the divide between art and music.
Background
A composer for many years, over the last two decades John's interests have focused on the aesthetic and representation of invisible forces, enigmatic places and arcane objects. As part of his research he has undertaken acoustic profiling at many prehistoric monuments in the UK, including Stonehenge, Avebury and Maeshowe. This has fuelled an evolving fascination with the relationship between sound, objects, structures, environments, and the ephemeral and transcendent experiences they host.
His work includes the creation of a range of sound-only compositions, 3D audio installation, and audio-visual installation art works. John has received commissions by individuals, businesses, universities and museums for a variety of projects (supporters include - The Environment Agency, Historic Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, The Leverhulme Trust, The British Council, Glasgow School of Art, Scottish Ten, University of York, University of Bristol, London Guildhall University, Kilmartin House Museum, Penrith and Eden Museum, Tullie House Museum, Heights of Abraham).