Fugue Zones, ost

Feb 7, 2026
Field:

Performance

 Location:

Grand Luxe Hall, Western Front

Time:

7:30 p.m.

Description:

To mark the opening of the multi-channel audiovisual installation Fugue Zones, ost, artists  DeForrest Brown, Jr., Steve Goodman (Kode9), and Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste presented a live performance in the Grand Luxe Hall. 

In this second iteration of their collaboration, the artists continued to work with a unique ensemble of consumer- and military-grade audio technologies intended for control, distraction, surveillance, entertainment, and force, asking, “What else can this do?” Bringing together their distinct production practices and critical concerns, Fugue Zones, ost was a prolonged inquiry into the subversive potential of sonic technologies freed from their intended use value, while embracing the multiple associations of fugue as its conceptual starting point.

The evening opened with a performative lecture by Toussaint-Baptiste delivered through a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), often referred to as a “sound cannon.” He examined the use of sonic weapons against civilians by law enforcement, drawing attention to the contested legal classification of the LRAD as a communication tool or non-weapon, despite both its capacity and documented use for harm. Framing the device explicitly as a weapon, he described its deployment by police and military forces, emphasizing its highly customizable, hyper-directional sound projection and the dangers it poses when used at close range.

Toussaint-Baptiste also spoke about his practice of purchasing LRAD units on the secondary market in order to remove them from circulation, repurposing them instead as instruments for artistic intervention. Activating the device in line with its stated “communicative” function, he used it as both microphone and speaker to amplify the “Cha Cha Slide.” In a deliberate inversion of its typical use, the LRAD became a tool for gathering rather than dispersal, as he invited the audience to join him in the dance.

Following this,  Brown, Jr. and  Goodman presented new electronic compositions amplified in the Grand Luxe Hall from adjoining rooms. The audience was invited to move through the space, experiencing the spatial diffusion of sound and interacting with an ambisonic microphone positioned at its centre.

Throughout the performance, two live video streams captured the view from the Western Front’s library window onto the street, projected onto panels mounted on opposing walls. 

Fugue Zones, ost was presented as a site-specific installation in the Grand Luxe Hall from February 12 to March 7, 2026. 

Fugue Zones, ost was co-produced with Canary Test, Los Angeles with support from the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts Infinite Expansion Grant, the Canada Council for the Arts, and SOCAN Foundation.

In the Grand Luxe Hall, seven audience members sit in a row of vintage dark wooden chairs placed against the wall. An eighth audience member sits elevated on a wooden plinth, shown from the neck down, holding an electronic instrument while their feet rest on a small black subwoofer positioned on top of a black case. The audience appears focused and attentive within the sonic space.
Vertical shot in the Grand Luxe Hall showing performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste elevated on a wooden plinth. He wears all black, a black beanie, and reading glasses. He holds a microphone to his mouth while also holding an electronic device, speaking into the mic. His feet rest on a small black subwoofer placed on a black case. Around him, three audience members sit on dark wooden chairs against the wall, watching and listening.
Performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste walks toward the center of the Grand Luxe Hall, holding a microphone, an electronic device and a small subwoofer. He speaks into the microphone while looking toward the audience with a serious expression. Around him, approximately thirty audience members gather and listen attentively. Three speakers on stands are visible behind the audience. The space is lit by overhead fluorescent lights.
A blurred, motion-heavy scene in the Grand Luxe Hall shows Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste from the chest down as he moves across the brown carpeted floor. He carries an electronic device and a small subwoofer while in motion. Around him, about ten audience members are also moving their bodies in a blur, creating a sense of collective movement and activity within the space.
In the Grand Luxe Hall, around sixteen audience members gather around performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste. Seen from behind, he wears all black clothing: a hoodie, pants, and a beanie. He holds a small subwoofer in one hand while gesturing with the other, his arm raised to shoulder height. He moves toward an ambisonic microphone positioned at the center of the space. The audience watches him attentively and amused.
Twelve audience members move their bodies around performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste in the Grand Luxe Hall. He dances while holding a long-range acoustic device and a small subwoofer in one hand, and a blue beverage can in the other. He looks down toward his feet, which appear blurred from motion. He wears all black clothing: pants, hoodie, shoes, and a beanie. The audience smiles and laughs as he performs, and his expression appears playful and inviting.
Around twelve audience members dance around performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste in the Grand Luxe Hall. He dances while holding a long-range acoustic device and a small subwoofer in one hand, and a blue beverage can in the other. He lifts one foot mid-step, captured in motion blur, and shows his tongue in a semi-smiling expression. He wears all black clothing: pants, hoodie, shoes, and a beanie. The audience smiles and laughs as they watch him, some mirroring his movement.
Around twelve audience members move their bodies around performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste in the Grand Luxe Hall. He is mid-dance, bringing both legs together as if completing a step, holding a long-range acoustic device and a small subwoofer in one hand. He wears all black clothing: pants, hoodie, shoes, and a beanie. A few audience members mirror his movement, while most watch attentively with smiles on their faces.
Around twelve audience members move their bodies around performer Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste in the Grand Luxe Hall. He is mid-dance, bringing both legs together as if completing a step, holding a long-range acoustic device and a small subwoofer in one hand. He wears all black clothing: pants, hoodie, shoes, and a beanie. A few audience members mirror his movement, while most watch attentively with smiles on their faces.
Artist DeForrest Brown, Jr. works at a laptop inside the Western Front Library. A table in front of him holds the computer, a pair of over-ear headphones, a paper cup, and audio equipment. He wears a black jacket and a black cap, looking intently at the screen with a focused expression. The glow of the laptop illuminates his face, while warm brown wood-paneled walls form the background.
Musician Steve Goodman operates a sound mixer, wearing a black jacket, green T-shirt, and cap, along with black earphones as he listens to the live composition. He twists knobs on the device, which features multiple illuminated buttons and LED indicators. His expression is focused and concentrated as he composes live.
Nineteen audience members gather in the Grand Luxe Hall, some seated on the brown carpeted floor and others on dark wooden chairs placed along the white walls. The audience appears quiet and attentive. Behind them, a projection screen displays a video of buildings. At the front of the space, an ambisonic microphone is mounted on a tall stand. The space is lit by warm overhead ceiling lights.
Performers Steve Goodman and DeForrest Brown Jr. collaborate in the Western Front Library. The scene is lit by a single overhead warm light. Steve stands behind a black table operating an electronic setup, wearing a black jacket, green T-shirt, and cap, looking at a laptop displaying audio software. Beside him, DeForrest Brown Jr. sits at a smaller table wearing all black with a black cap, his eyes obscured. He looks intently at his laptop while lifting one hand slightly. Library bookshelves surround them in the background.
Five audience members sit in the Grand Luxe Hall, some on the brown carpeted floor and others on dark wooden chairs along the white walls. They appear quiet and focused, looking ahead toward an unseen performance outside the frame. Behind them, a projection screen displays a video of buildings. The space is lit by warm overhead ceiling lights.

Related Events

Captions:

Back to:

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.

We use cookies on our website. Some are essential, while others help us to improve this website and your experience. Change your preferences any time via Cookie Settings or see our Privacy Policy for more information.
or
  • Essential: Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the website to function properly.
  • External Media (optional): Content from external video platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default. If these cookies are accepted, access to this content no longer requires manual consent.
  • Analytics: These cookies collect information anonymously to help us understand how our visitors use our website. We use Matomo and do not give analytic data to third party services.