Synesthesia: David Byrne

1997-2001, 70 min, color, sound

Tony Oursler's Synesthesia project features interviews with twelve legendary figures in the downtown music, performance and art scenes: John Cale, Thurston Moore, Dan Graham, Genesis P-Orridge, Kim Gordon, Glenn Branca, Laurie Anderson, Tony Conrad, David Byrne, Lydia Lunch, Alan Vega, and Arto Lindsay. These works were originally included as one element of Oursler and Mike Kelley's multimedia installation The Poetics Project. These conversations reveal fascinating insights and anecdotes from some of the most influential figures in the experimental rock and art underground of the 1970s and '80s, from pre-punk innovators to post-punk icons, from industrial and avant-garde music to noise bands and No Wave.

David Byrne was the leader of the Talking Heads, the enormously influential band that rose to international fame after emerging from the downtown New York New Wave/punk scene that revolved around CBGB in the late 1970's. His subsequent solo career has included recording, performing, producing, and directing and scoring films. Byrne has also recently returned to his roots as a visual artist, making work that explores the boundaries between external and internal space.

Produced by Tony Oursler. Questions: Tony Oursler, Mike Kelley, David West, Linda Post. Camera: Linda Post, Tony Oursler. Editing: Tony Oursler, Elizabeth Kading.