A 3-hour hands-on workshop on how to design and build an eco-friendly synthesizers made from fabric offcuts and e-textiles circuits. All materials provided. This workshop takes place at Not For Sale Gallery as part of Soft Cymatics, a solo exhibition by Lia Mice.
The workshop on the 31st of January has sold out but there are still tickets for the workshop on the 25th of January!
ABOUT SOFT CYMATICS
Soft Cymatics is a new large (2 metres wide and tall) synthesizer meticulously crafted by Lia Mice using velvet fabric offcuts sewn into a giant quilt made up of patches patterned with the cymatic symbolic representation of each tone. With a plush feel and a lush sound, music is performed by touching the quilt that has capacitive touch circuits embedded in its thread. Exploring concepts of neuroaesthetics, Soft Cymatics challenges synthesizer interface designers to consider how the use of larger, eco-friendlier and fuzzier materials impacts music performance.
ABOUT LIA MICE
Lia Mice is an award winning multidisciplinary artist, educator and pioneering maker of oversized sculptural musical instruments. For over 20 years, Mice has prolifically produced a diverse body of work, frenetically shape shifting through multidisciplinary practices and international music and art scenes. At the core of her creative approach is a joyful DIY ethic: creating with what she has, without waiting for resources or permission. As a mixed media artist of sculptural musical instruments, Mice has shown her instruments at V&A Museum London, Ars Electronica Linz, Tate Modern London, Institute of Contemporary Art London, Deliaphonic Festival Conventry, Sonorities Festival Belfast, International Conference for Computer Human Interaction (CHI) New Orleans and Georgia Tech Atlanta. Mice’s instruments are provocations to the commercial musical instrument industry that focuses on small desktop instruments made of unsustainable materials. Mice’s practice explores the design of instruments larger than the performer. She build with reclaimed materials headed for landfill and experiments with creating new eco-friendlier materials. Mice has collaborated on instrument design projects with Native Instruments, The Barbican, LSO and the OHMI Trust with whom she designed a One-Handed Violin concept. In 2021, Mice was awarded the Oram Award for Innovation in Sound, Music and Related Technologies presented by PRS, British Council and the New Radiophonic Workshop. Mice holds a Masters of Music in Creative Practice from Goldsmiths University of London and a PhD in Media and Arts Technology from Queen Mary University of London. https://www.liamice.com
CLOSING PARTY & EXHIBITION
For tickets to attend the Soft Cymatics Exhibition Sunday 25th to Wednesday 28th of January 2026 go here: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/32895/lia-mice-soft-cymatics-exhibition-not-for-sale-gallery
For tickets to the Crux Presents Soft Cymatics Closing Party on Saturday 31st of January 7:30PM-10:30PM go here: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/32048/crux-presents-soft-cymatics-closing-party
ACCESSIBILITY
*** We apologise that this venue is not wheelchair accessible. The gallery is up 4 flights of stairs and there is no working lift or accessible toilet. ***
Please contact me (Lia) via the ‘contact organiser’ button below to discuss access requirements, such as live streaming options and to receive info about an upcoming fabric synth building workshop in a wheelchair accessible location in London in February, and to attend and play Soft Cymatics at a wheelchair accessible seminar in London in March.