Vultures is a cross-form piece by Matt Brombley, in response to research by Chi Ying Lam, working with migrant women at the cross-cultural hub as they engage with AI deep fakes.
At the heart the performance is a custom-coded, biodynamic system that turns drawing into sound, sound into movement, and movement into drawing. This is weaved together with vocals, samples and other sonic elements into a semi-improvised performance, guided by a one page score.
The piece takes its title from the words of one participant's reaction to a deep fake video: "very convincing, they're like vultures".
Emerging from that central metaphor, the piece draws in themes from the research and their resonance with Matt's practice and identity, exploring tensions inherent in the relationships we have with, and the relationships between, technology, family, and the environment; relationships with and between doubt and belief; progress and reflection; identity and belonging; relationship with and between life and death.
Vultures was originally performed at British Science Festival 2026, and was kindly supported by Mayflower Studios. After the performance, Matt will demonstrate and explain the technology at its heart.