23 June 2006

Live performance at Chapelle de Boondael,  Brussels

Bent Object & FoAM (BE)
Bent Object is the collaborative project of New-Zealand dancer/singer Susanne Bentley and Belgian electronic musician Peter Van Hoesen.
Thematically Bent Object deals with today’s rapidly changing realities: our fragmented society, different cultures blending, the mutation of signs and symbols, constant and rapid technological change. Bent Object observes and comments on the individual experience – how people cope with this change, how they adapt and think.
The universe Bent Object describes is one of intense interconnections, of previously autonomous systems feeding into each other, of ongoing mutation of human language and behaviour. The different performance aspects describe this evolution, by linking together movement, sound and visuals into one process. Cause and effect are difficult to separate, blending into each other.
A Bent Object performance presents an intense combination of movement and sound, complemented by Foam’s unique visuals – an exquisite blend of organic and digital forms.
Bent Object is working on new ways to combine movement with live electronic music and live vocal treatment, through the use of sensors and accelerometers, and custom-made software developed in Max/MSP.

In human format: performance and installation

There exists the notion of exploring new territory and radically transforming natural sounds and images through digital technologies, as opposed to the replication of ‘real life’ analogue processes through the same technologies. E.g. a sampler can be used to create radically new sounds, but it can also serve to imitate a violin. The former application is more interesting for artists experimenting with new ways of production.

‘In human format’ is a prime example of full-on experimentation with this idea. Vocals, music, organic image and computer-generated designs are digitally grafted together, creating an intriguing and intensely evolving reality.

For this performance, Bent Object combines live singing, sensor bending and electronic music with Foam’s unique visuals. The result is 45 minutes of audiovisual bliss, capturing your senses and transporting you into a multi-layered, parallel world.

Thematically, Bent Object and Foam’s joint project explores our place as humans in today’s increasingly complex and technology-dominated world. The performance version of ‘In human format’ is centered around material from the ‘In human format’ DVD, released by Foton.

The installation version of ‘In human format’ features a quad-speaker setup and 50-min DVD-loop. Single-screen projection in a dark and closed-off space increases the impact of sound and visuals.

Music & performance: Peter Van Hoesen and Susanne Bentley
Visuals: Maja Kuzmanovic and Nik Gaffney – Foam.
Production: Foton vzw

In collaboration with Greatshare
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Photos from Flickr