Synesthesia: Lydia Lunch

1997-2001, 25:57 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."

Lydia Lunch has been an important figure in New York's downtown art and music scene since the late 1970s, when she led such seminal no-wave bands as Teenage Jesus & the Jerks and 8 Eyed Spy. Since then she has been widely acclaimed for her writing, spoken word projects, and performances in experimental films.

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