Modul8 is a proud supporter of SCREENPLAY at the Collegium Hungaricum Berlin This one night only event will feature a variety of seasoned artists working in the field of live cinema, many of whom have found Modul8 to be an essential tool for expressing their ideas through live video performance.
April 9th from 14h00 until 02h00?
Ungarisches Kulturinstitut
Dorotheenstraße 12
10117 Berlin
For further info: http://chb.screenplaynights.com/
Abstract Sound Project – Live Teaser 2009 from Personne Records on Vimeo.
The inbox has received a bounty of video links recently. The dream of several years ago of cohesive audio visual collaborations is becoming a reality as the Abstract Sound Project collaborates with Diez. A relatively simple approach that delivers.
“Through a live audio associated with a performance video, Abstract Sound Project reveals a unique combination of sound and image. On a projection surface of 20m², they transport us into their world where electronic sounds blend with the graphic arts.
This structure helps to immerse 2 musician in various tables imagined realized by the video artist Diez.
One beamer, modul8, one bcf2000 , for live video , each screen is managed independently.”
Video Mashup from Zoo Usine, Geneva 2009 from Startsladd on Vimeo.
Gothumborg, Sweden crew Startsladd gets teamed up with A-LI-CE at the Zoo in Geneva, Switzerland. A nice pairing I think as both entities are skilled creators of custom video footage that is always both engaging and humorous. Startsladd has also just relaunched their website with an updated VJ demo for the coming year.
baba roga’s revenge voirchestra presents HÄXAN from pixelschubser on Vimeo.
From Mannheim, Germany Pixelshubser keeps up a very active schedule of vj sets, the upcoming B-seite festival. Of interest to me was an ‘expanded cinema performance of Häxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages) made 1922 from Benjamin Christensen.’
As for me, I am in New York at the moment along with Modul8 Team member Sigma6. Meeting up with Vimeo and other Modul8 enthusiasts as well as doing some performances and a Modul8 workshop. Until then.
VISUALIZA from NextVj on Vimeo.
I have previously included the work of Nestor although I apologize for the fact that I am unable to track down that post at the moment.
Nestor appears to be very active in generating some buzz for the ‘custom projected image.’ You’ll note that at some point during this video that the space this party is occupying is in a museum. This can be seen from a sped up shot where you can see gallery walls of ‘static’ art on display. You then turn a corner and the room is illuminated. At some point there is also an acrobatics act.
I grabbed the text from the vimeo page and ran it through Babel Fish, cleaned it up a bit to be able to convey approximately what is going on.
“Encounter of VJ´s and bands multimedia, realized in the Argentine North. First of a series of events projected at National level with the purpose of to (introducing?) the position of the VJ (as a) Visual Artist and central figure of the spectacle. The encounter carried out in the Museum of Means and of Resistance, Contacted by Subt Multimedios and with the support of the Institute of Culture of the Chaco.”
Of course I am not sure about the VJ as the central figure. I like to think about it as more collaborative. And I am guessing that Nestor would probably agree with me on this point in that I am taking ‘central figure of the spectacle’ literally. The reason I think Nestor would agree is evidenced by the following video that is a documentation of dance performance.
Aerial acrobatics, theater and live video from NextVj on Vimeo.
I asked him a little bit about this project on vimeo and I am quoting it here:
m8.us:
“Was this a good learning experience working with a dance company? Can you elaborate a little bit on the process of how the imagery for the production was decided on?”
NextVj:
“Thanks, this is the third time working with this company. First they decided the visual moments. Not all the time, just interventions.
Water, fire, air and land (mapping on the circular screen)
I made the textures. Modul8 let me give freshness to the show, mixing in real time according to the performance of the artists. Without prior testing, just follow the script.
The program also allowed me to do, with the circular mapping, images of films in the first place and space background.
The combination of arts, enhances the visual effect.
Something to mention. I did not get pictures of air, but thanks to the courtesy of Vimeo and john stiltwalker can download their excellent images of the sky and complete my work.
I am fascinated by these exchanges before impossible.”
I first met Legoman at the first edition of the Mapping Festival back in 2005. Even back then he already demonstrated a dissatisfaction with the screen and ‘simply being a vj.’ He knew there could be more to it.
After he finished his studies he left Geneva and by the time I returned for the 2007 edition of the Mapping he was living in Brussels, slicing up materials and creating unique installations where the emphasis on ‘image’ was more focused on the images created by the eye in comprehending the transformation of space.
His installation at Mapping 2007 was called 3destruct. It featured a room filled with thin strips of the famous gauze like material with 3 projectors and an audio system. The images of the video hinted at some kind of claustrophobic, techno armageddon. It was an illuminated forrest of metal, clicks and glitches.
Since then he has been collaborating heavily with the Anti-VJ collective. And just the other day, thanks to facebook (see, its useful for something) he posted some really nice images of a collaboration with a music group called the Stray Dogs.
It is REALLY, really important for me stress several things. Firstly, we receive a lot of questions regarding mapping projections based on photos and videos. If by the work of Anti-VJ, Exyzt or a host of other artists working in this area. What I need to stress is that the technique is really very simple. Put a projector in front of an object, map it using your favorite graphics editing software, make video with this as a template and drop it into modul8.
This is really simple. Even simpler with this installation is the usage of rather inexpensive materials. It appears that there was not even a need to hang anything with a drill and screws. What is hard is getting the content and documentation right. DSLR cameras are pretty cheap these days and a few extra for a decent wide angle lens and the return on the investment is self evident. I don’t even really need to see video. Would be nice though.
Would like to see more of this. Keep up the good work Legoman.
Closing of my 2nd day at the AVIT:Kezmarok, License to Screen festival. As I write this I am one hour from the first of my two part modul8 workshop here. My demonstration materials are all set up and I am always a bit giddy.
We arrived after an eight hour drive from Berlin. Two cars speeding along the highways of Poland. As the sun went down we arrived in the hills just before the Tatra mountains and finally the greeting party in the woods just outside the town of Kezmarok complete with a nearby stream, cookout and camp fire.
I am very excited about this festival. The initiative began as a conversation between a group of friends in Berlin who were discussing the tensions between Hungary and Slovakia. There idea was to try to do something cultural that would bring people together. As David Szauder was one of the persons present during this conversation the cultural element lead to VJing and the AVIT network.
AVIT was one of the first large international events dedicated to the VJ medium. This became VJ Central and the AVIT network has been adopted by LPM in Rome, Visionare in Paris, Visual Berlin and now extends east with Kezmarok in Slovakia.
Actually this festival was supposed to make its debut in 2010. But the mayor of Kezmarok was eager and asked if there could be a festival already in 2009. In less than three months arrangements were made as quickly as possible to include workshops in the Kezmarok House of Culture, outdoor performances in the main square and a club party in the basement of Castle Kezmarok.
So why am I here? Besides doing a workshop I will be doing some VJing in the square with some of my peers, David Szauder (recently re-christened pixel noizz), Benjamin Jantzen, Luci Benson and others. Beyond that I feel like I am part of something much larger. As individuals we are tightening our lines of communication within the community. As a group are trying to show how this medium can smooth the rough edges of communication within the European Community. All positive acts ripple on to other positive ones.
I am looking forward to posting some photos of some of the upcoming events.