13 Jun 2025

New music for the silent Len Lye film, Tusalava

From Nine To Noon, 9:35 am on 13 June 2025
Composer plays grand piano

Composer Andrew_Faletau Photo: 2025 Nick George Creative, all rights reserved.

Artist Len Lye was known for not only his kinetic sculptures, but also his experimental films.

One of his best known films  is Tusalava - an animated black and white short form film showing the evolution of a cellular creature.

The work was created in 1929 and while the film still exists the sound track has been lost.

However Samoan composer Andrew Faleatua has written a new composition to be performed with the film as part of Wellington's midwinter arts festival Lōemis.

He joins Kathryn to talk about writing the new music for a piece that heavily features  Māori and Pacific motifs.

Tusalava will be played along with a number of other silent, avant-garde films, featuring new scores played by the music ensemble Stroma at  Wellington's Roxy Cinema, Monday 16 June.