Bernhard Gál

Biography

Bernhard Gál (born 1971) is an Austrian artist, composer and musicologist.

Biography

Bernhard Gál (a.k.a. Gal) works between the categories, creating music for instruments and electro-acoustic compositions, as well as art installations. Many of his intermedia art projects and sound installations present combinations of sound, light, objects, video projections and spatial concepts. He is director of the Austrian art organization "sp ce" and runs the record label Gromoga Records. From 2006 to 2025, he directed the transdisciplinary festival “shut up and listen!” in Vienna, which continued in 2026 as the LIMIN∆LE festival. In 2006–07, he taught at the Berlin University of the Arts. From 2010 to 2013, he was a research assistant at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. In 2021, Gál earned his Ph.D. with a dissertation on installation-based sound art as part of the “Science and Art” doctoral program at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, published by wolke, Germany in 2022. From 2020 to 2025, he served as a lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (music theory, repertoire, aural training, composition). Since fall 2023, Gál has been leading the multi-year FWF-PEEK project AUDIO GHOSTS, which focuses on artistic research into auditory illusions in sound art. Gál's work has been presented in concerts, installations and exhibitions throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. He has been invited to music and art festivals including Donaueschinger Musiktage, Donaufestival, FILE in São Paulo, ICMC, Inventionen, MaerzMusik and Sonambiente in Berlin, Jeunesse Festival and Wien Modern in Vienna, MATA Festival, New Sound and New York-Festival in New York City, Musashino Public Art Festival in Tokyo, Musicacoustica in Beijing, Mutek in Montreal, Nuova Consonanza in Rome, Soundfield Festival in Chicago, and Festival Stimme+ of the ZKM in Karlsruhe. He has collaborated with artists such as Yumi Kori, P. Michael Schultes, G. S. Sedlak, and Emre Tuncer. For his work, Gal has received numerous awards, including the Karl Hofer Prize of Berlin in 2001, a fellowship from the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program in 2003, the Austrian state scholarship for composition in 2004, and the Outstanding Artist Award for Music of the City of Vienna 2010. His music has been made available on c. 30 audio publications, by record labels such as Durian, Plate Lunch, Intransitive Records, Bremsstrahlung, Klanggalerie, Charhizma, and Gromoga. Currently Gál lives and works in Vienna.

Selected electroacoustic works

"Ur-Ur", series of electro-acoustic compositions, ca. 40', 2016.
"homesweethomes #3", 23', 2016.
"Das himmlische Kind", 34', 2015. Book & DVD Video 'Zwischenbrücken', edition sp ce, 2015.
"homesweethomes #2", 17', 2014.
"homesweethomes #1", 32', 2013.
"Void", 9', 2012.
"earlift", 16', 2011. Book & DVD Video 'Zwischenbrücken', edition sp ce, 2015.
"xuan zhuan", 15', 2009. CD 'same difference', Gromoga, Austria, 2010.
"relive", series of electro-acoustic compositions, 78', 2008. CD-Version released by Gromoga, Austria, 2008.
"solo", four electro-acoustic compositions, 4 x 20', 2007. Book & DVD Video 'Zwischenbrücken', edition sp ce, 2015.
"Reinstallation", 74', 2006.
"le gocce dell' uomo del campo", 7', 2004. CD 'Danza De La Muerte', Klanggalerie, Austria, 2003.
"Dreiband", 42', 2003. Catalogue book and Audio CD 'Installations', Kehrer, 2005.
"Made in Austria", 2002.
"RGB", 42', 2001. CD 'relisten', Intransitive, USA, 2001.
"Hinaus:: In den, Wald.", 64', 2001. CD-Version released by Klanggalerie, Austria, 2004.
"zhu shui", 7', 2001. CD 'lowercase sound', Bremsstrahlung, USA, 2002.
"57A", 7', 2001. CD 'relisten', Intransitive, USA, 2001.
"bestimmung darmstadt", nine voice sculptures, 41', 2000.
"Defragmentation/blue", 56', 1998. CD-Version released by Plate Lunch, Germany, 2000.
"bestimmung new york", 15 voice sculptures, 63', 1998. CD-Version released by Durian, Austria, 1999.
"68th Street", 14', 1998. CD 'relisten', Intransitive, USA, 2001.

Selected instrumental works

"Un-Un | ununtitled", for four female vocalists, 2015.
"schwarzenberg", for piano, 2013
"beshadowed II", for flute, violoncello, sound- and light projection, 2013.
"flut", for bass flute and quadrophonic sound projection, 2011 (in collaboration with Belma Beslic-Gal).
"becuadro", for brass quartet and light projection, 2008
"behape", for 2 clarinets and sound projection, 2006
"Klangschatten", for Chinese instruments, sound- and light projection, 2004
"UTOO", for chamber ensemble and sound projection, 2004
"belit", composition for chamber ensemble and light projection, 2004
"uh-jeh-gal", for zheng, sheng and live electronics, 2004
"vür fier", for quartertone-trumpet, guitar, sheng / xun and zheng, 2003
"Defragmentation", for chamber ensemble, 2002
"Mount Blanc", for (amplified) piano, 2002
"beshadowed", for flute, violoncello, sound- and light projection, 2002
"Of Sound and Time", for traditional Chinese instruments and three listeners, 2000

Selected exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions / Intermedia Art Projects

Das himmlische Kind; Zurich University of the Arts (Toni Campus), Zurich, 2015
Silence is quiet. Listening; Radio Art Project; Kunstradio, Austria, 2013
textur #8 (premiere); Kunstverein Alte Schmiede, Vienna, 2013
textur #7 (premiere); Institut für neue Medien, Frankfurt, 2012
textur #6 (premiere); Kunstverein Alte Schmiede, Vienna, 2011
earlift; KunstQuartier, Salzburg, Austria. 2011
Sterngucker; Planetarium Judenburg, Austria, 2011
stromlinien; KoFoMi 2010, Mittersill, Austria, 2010
textur #5 (premiere); SESC Avenida Paulista, São Paulo, 2009
mil águas. DMAE Gallery, Porto Alegre, Brasil, 2009
solo. Allgemeiner Konsumverein, Braunschweig, Germany, 2009
RGB. Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (Austria), 2008
solo. Lakeside Science & Technology Park, Klagenfurt (Austria), 2008
Reinstallation. O Lugar, São Paulo, 2008
Die Grüne Hölle. Kunstverein Alte Schmiede, Vienna, 2008
Klangbojen, Festival Donaueschinger Musiktage, Germany, 2007
Jukai. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. The David Winton Bell Gallery, Providence, 2007
solo. Musik aktuell 2007, Gutenbrunn, Austria, 2007
solo. Musik aktuell 2007, Tulln, Austria, 2007
shinkai. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. ISE Foundation, New York City, 2006
Reinstallation. Festival Electric Eclectics, Meaford (Canada), 2006
Die Grüne Hölle. Festival Sonambiente, Gallery of the Austrian Embassy, Berlin, 2006
Airport. Musikinstrumenten-Museum, Berlin, 2006
Infinitation (Seattle). In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Center of Contemporary Art, Seattle, 2005
Hinaus:: In den, Wald. Diapason Gallery, New York, 2005
Defragmentation (Krems). In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Donaufestival, Krems, 2005
Night Pulses. O.K. Centrum für Gegenwartskunst, Linz, 2004
RGBuSW. singuhr - hoergalerie in parochial, Berlin, 2004
Klangbojen. Musik aktuell 2003, Hanslteich, Gutenbrunn (Austria), 2003
Klangbojen. Musik aktuell 2003, Donau-Altarm, Tulln (Austria), 2003
Machina temporis. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Franziskaner-Klosterruine, Berlin, 2002
RGB. Kunstverein Alte Schmiede, Vienna, 2001
zhu shui. Jazzatelier Ulrichsberg, Austria, 2000
Defragmentation/red. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Kryptonale Festival, Berlin, 2000
Dissociated Voices. Werkstadt Graz, Graz, 2000
Defragmentation/blue. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Studio Five Beekman, New York, 1999
Group Exhibitions

sprachklanggesetzt; Festival EUROPA, Arena, Vienna, 2015
Alsógál; Sound Art Group Exhibition 'On the Edge of Perceptibility', Kunsthalle Budapest, 2014
Revelator | Boxed Secret | Neon Pier; Sheila Johnson Design Center, New York City, 2014
It's like...; Group Exhibition 'Ueber das Scheitern'; enter: Raum für Kunst, Salzburg, 2013
homesweethomes; Espace Projet, Montreal, 2013
Sterngucker; Festival Sláturtíð, Reykjavík Art Museum, Iceland, 2011
vibrate space, Festival Coded Cultures, Vienna, 2011
RGB. das weisse haus, Vienna, 2010
enelten. Area 53, Vienna, 2010
Reinstallation. Festival Musicacoustica, Beijing, 2007
Hyohaku-no-Hakobune. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Kobe Bienal, Kobe, 2007
Shinkai. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Japan Society, New York City, 2007
Hinaus:: In den, Wald. Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo, 2007
RADIO EARS (textur #2). Magyar Muehely Galéria, Budapest, 2007
Infinitation (São Paulo). In collaboration with Yumi Kori. SESC Pinheiros, São Paulo, 2006
RGB. Klangturm, St. Poelten, Austria, 2006
Defragmentation (ISCP). In collaboration with Yumi Kori. ISCP, New York City, 2005
soundbagism. Denver International Airport, USA, 2004
Oelbilder. Festival Reservoir VIII. Grosser Wasserspeicher, Berlin, 2004
Three Whites. Sound Art Exhibition ‘Rock's Role‘, Art in General, New York, 2004
zhu shui. MATA-Festival. Gallery ‘GAle GAtes et al.’ New York, 2003
Green Voice / Green Box. In collaboration with Yumi Kori. Musashino, Tokyo, 2002
enelten. Sound Off Festival. Galéria Umenia, Nové Zámky, Slowakia, 2002
I am sHitting in a room. Durian-Festival. Konzerthaus, Wien, 2002
Hinaus:: In den, Wald. Sammlung Essl, Klosterneuburg (Austria), 2001
bestimmung darmstadt. Museum Institut Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt, 2000
NYC Subway. Jonathan Shorr Gallery, New York City, 1998