Artist Ivana Dama presents Figures in the Air

Figures in Air is a performance that transforms invisible gestures into sound.

Using analog synthesizers, artist Ivana Dama creates an atmospheric and ambient soundscape shaped by custom-made capacitive sensors developed in collaboration with the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, alongside Neil Gershenfeld and Quentin Bolsee. Sensitive to proximity and subtle movement, these instruments allow her to activate sound by appearing to touch nothing at all, composing in space, as if shaping air itself.

Small gestures trigger shifting frequencies, layered tones, and evolving textures. The performance unfolds as a delicate choreography of presence and pressure, where the body becomes both conductor and sensor. Live visuals generated directly from her instruments respond in real time, extending the sonic environment into a fully immersive, multi-sensory experience.

This performance takes place in the Grand Lobby and is free and open to the public.

Stage Events - Throughout the run of the special exhibition Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, a site-specific stage located in front of the Modern’s auditorium will host both programmed performances and spontaneous activations. An artwork in its own right, Stage, 2026, features a powder-coated steel surface bearing Johnson’s signature marks, scratched and branded into the metal, aging and burnishing over time. This platform, where others can express themselves, emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between artist and audience, a central motif in the artist’s practice.

Inspired by Johnson’s early memories of dancing and performing with friends atop Carl Andre’s Post-Minimalist floor works at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Stage is a testament to Johnson’s commitment to creating space for others. More than an invitation to engage and interact, the work fosters artistic endeavors and creativity as a collective experience.