Jamie XX Provides Live Score for Doug Aitken's 'Lightscape' Installation at Shed Gala
At the Shed's annual gala, musician Jamie XX performed a live score to accompany Doug Aitken's seven-screen film installation 'Lightscape.' The installation features actors like Natasha Lyonne and Beck and explores themes of isolation and disconnection in modern society.
The 65-minute piece unfolded across seven screens inside the Shed's expansive Darla Moore Gallery, a 12,000-square-foot venue. Aitken's film captured performers traversing varied American landscapes, from arid deserts and remote peaks to industrial sites and roadways, with a visual sensibility that drew comparisons to Wim Wenders' cinematic style.
Though several scenes placed multiple figures together, the characters rarely engaged with one another. Aitken told Variety the work broadly addressed feelings of isolation and dissociation prevalent in contemporary life. The gala itself was an invite-only affair, with Jamie XX providing live musical accompaniment as the imagery rolled, creating an immersive sound-and-vision experience for attendees.
This pairing of a prominent electronic musician with a large-scale visual installation could expand audience engagement with contemporary art, particularly among music fans who might not typically visit gallery spaces. Jamie XX's involvement may also signal a growing trend of cross-disciplinary collaborations between musicians and visual artists, potentially broadening the cultural reach of both mediums and fostering deeper appreciation for immersive art experiences.