BIOMETRICKS transforms Audium into a pulsating, magical, vibratory body.
How does it feel when we tune into our internal rhythms? When we synchronize our heartbeats and our breaths? And what are we giving up when this data is fed to corporations and police departments? Listen and decide for yourself.
Biometric signals can be powerful tools that allow us to connect more deeply with ourselves and others. However, they are increasingly harvested by large institutions without our knowledge or consent. The show’s title references how our bodily signals are- often problematically- wielded as data for identification, surveillance, and control.
Featuring sounds collected using a stethoscope microphone, BIOMETRICKS showcases breath, heartbeats, stomach gurgles, and the resonances within our heads. Barbara Nerness will perform this piece live, layering guitar, voice, drum beats recorded by Jack Perry, and field recordings of San Francisco to highlight how our conceptualization of the body – and what makes it unique – is reflected in the larger systems of the city.
June 4 – 27, 2026
Every weekend
Doors 7:30pm; show 8:00pm
$20–$30
Barbara Nerness is an artist and scientist whose work spans music composition, live performance, video, and cognitive science. She currently teaches in Technology and Applied Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She received her PhD and Doctoral Certificate in Composition from Stanford’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). She has performed at venues throughout the Bay Area and Los Angeles, as well as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, ZKM, and the Sonic Arts Research Centre.
Barbara Nerness is part of Audium’s 2025-26 Sound Residency. Learn more here.
This project is made possible in part through the generous support of the San Francisco Arts Commission.
