Music has always been an integral part of Darren Sylvester’s life and art. In 2008 Sylvester wrote, performed and produced an album of pop songs which he created over a four-month period. During this time the artist purchased musical instruments and recording equipment, and taught himself to sing, play guitar and drums, record and mix. The album followed his visual art aesthetic, as a heavily layered production that was at once nostalgic, romantic, emotional and droll. He has since released two other solo albums.

Sylvester has frequently collaborated with music producer and composer James Cecil. Their latest collaboration is the original soundtrack produced to accompany the dancefloor installation For You on display at NGV Australia.

Darren Sylvester and James Cecil present an illustrated lecture introducing Sylvester’s music, followed by a tour of the exhibition discussing the influence of music on Sylvester’s visual art, the transition into producing and performing albums, their collaborations together, how they produce pop songs and, specifically, the soundtrack for For You.

This is an Auslan interpreted program.