New Forms Festival’s Transform showcases avant-garde art and audiovisual mastery
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New Forms Festival’s Transform showcase returns to Vancouver for a second year on November 13, presenting a four-day fusion of live performances, DJ sets, immersive audiovisual installations, and thought-provoking panels that delve into art and resistance.
The event’s program underscores its commitment to community and heritage, amplifying voices often sidelined in mainstream art spaces. Curated in partnership with local creatives Lionessa, Adam, and Sierra Lima, this year’s lineup pushes beyond previous iterations to highlight diverse audiovisual artistry. The program offers an array of augmented reality pieces, soundscapes, and visuals crafted by artists from underground QTBIPOC and SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) communities, as well as key figures in global community radio.
The festival opens at the Woodward’s Building with i+eo’s multimedia installation, followed by the dreamlike work of Stefana Fratila and Diana Lynn VanderMeulen. Evidence Doll returns with hardcore energy, while DJ Mikubat and DJ Nanoos blend global beats from Tehran to Chicago with local influences. Newcomers Tati au Miel and Piu bring sensory landscapes and ambient percussive sounds to their Vancouver debut.
One festival highlight is the panel called Artists Against Apartheid, featuring Rawan Hassan, Jada Pape, and others as they discuss art’s power in resistance—a crucial topic given current global conflicts.
“I’ve selected artists who challenge expectations of electronic music, with a heavy focus on driving percussions and rhythmic entropy,” shares co-curator Adam in a statement. “Using intricate sound design and world-building skills, these artists pull from their respective heritages to build rich cultural soundscapes that encourage futurism, transcendence, and the deconstruction of oppressive realities.”
Transform 2024
When: November 13 to November 16
Where: KW Studios in the Woodward’s Building
Admission: $17+, available here
