°1965
Lives and works in Maastricht

Drawing on a research-based approach to his artistic practice, Paul Devens develops bodies of work that link elements of sound and architecture. By collecting site-specific audio recordings, Devens actively takes into account the physical space and social context. His research translates into sound installations, architectural interventions, performances and CD and vinyl editions. His work also alludes to infrastructures relating to values, preconceptions and codes in civil society.

Paul Devens’ work stems from a long-standing research into how the historical, political and social layers of a specific context can be addressed through sound, in relation to the role of architecture within that landscape. His fieldwork results in sound installations that show the social situation of place in a way that incorporates the voices of political minorities, amplifying an amendment to what is considered “reality”.

Throughout his artistic career, he has constantly explored a new visual and sound vocabulary to capture the relevance of a moment and a place. This language is shaped by the economic, historical or political circumstances that inform the work. The transformation of original information into a work of art takes place through a process that involves isolating the sound from the original context, shaping it manually and presenting it in a new context, giving new meaning to the act of recording.

His works have been installed and performed at: Experimance Festival Saarbrücken (2023), Bonnefantenmuseum (2022), Sonic Matter Zürich (2021), November Music Den Bosch (2019), Instituto Buena Bista Curacao (2018 -2019), Museum Z33, Hasselt (B) (2002 & 2012), Ctrl_Alt_Del, Istanbul (2003, 2005, 2007), OCA/ISP, Oslo (2004), Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen (2010), Diapason Gallery, New York (2011), Radio Art Festival, Tallinn (2011), D-0 ARK Biennale of Bosnia – Herzegovina (2013), Jerusalem Show (2014), DordtYard, Dordrecht (2014), Stimulating Synapse, EMAA, Nicosia (2015),
Galerija Umjetnina, Split (2015), Hacking Habitat, Utrecht (2016), bb15, Linz (2016), Ateliers de Clerici, Milano (2017), Electromagnetique Mobile, Off program, Dakar (2018), etc.

http://www.pauldevens.nl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Devens
https://www.artcuratorgrid.com/users/paul-devens/posts
http://www.outside-sounds.com/paul-devens/