-
Follow us
-
-
Flickr
Archives for Author: Aylwin Lo
Tristan Perich at MUTEK: 1-Bit Symphony
January 23, 2012
Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events
In our final post of the MUTEK interview series, we talk to Tristan Perich about classical music, low-level microprocessor programming, interactivity, (pseudo-)randomness, and the imperfection of logical systems.
A composer, musician, programmer, and visual artist, Perich has explored the intersections of these disciplines for the past decade through sculpture, installation, and performance. Last year, he released 1-Bit Symphony: a 5-movement work delivered in a CD jewel case containing not an optical disc, but a circuit centred around a tiny Atmel microcontroller that “performs” his symphony through a standard headphone jack.
Atmel microcontrollers are at the heart of the Arduino open-source electronics platform commonly used to prototype creative hardware projects. But while Arduino programmers use a C++-like language, Perich programs his Atmel chips in assembly language – low-level language specific to the hardware it runs on.
Software developers usually program in higher-level languages like C++ and use a compiler to automatically translate their code into machine-executable assembly code. Assembly languages are typically more verbose than their higher-level counterparts and can be cryptic and non-portable.
If writing a symphony in assembly code sounds like a painstaking and laborious process, that’s because it is. However, Perich found something compelling in the process and has built up an appreciable body of work pairing low-level electronic and computer hardware with visual and aural expression. Read More
Sol Del Rio at MUTEK: Mystic Multitalent Mounts MonsterShine
November 3, 2011
Posted in CFC Media Lab
It’s the afternoon of June 4, a few hours before Sol Del Rio’s performance. She’s been booked for Designer_Mix, MUTEK’s evening dedicated to the first three cities to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network under its “design” banner: Buenos Aires, Berlin, and Montreal. Del Rio, who is from Buenos Aires, and her labelmate, Chancha Vía Circuito, will be bookending the night with their electrified interpretations of traditional and popular South American music.
She’s running late due to some technical issues encountered during soundcheck, but as with many MUTEK artists, it’s understandable. Technology can be a fickle collaborator, and while most MUTEK artists push the state of their art, Del Rio’s evening is still particularly ambitious: first, she’ll be delivering a solo audiovisual performance from Ableton Live and VDMX, then she’ll be back at the end of the event to handle visuals for Chancha Vía Circuito.
Despite the shy persona suggested by the promo photos that show her only hooded or in silhouette, Del Rio isn’t too shy to lay vocals down in her music. A microphone stands at the ready next to her laptop. Alongside “musician,” “VJ,” and “designer,” It looks like “vocalist” could also be added to Del Rio’s calling card.
AntiVJ at MUTEK: Projection mapping masters talk up unconventional visuals and running a “visual label”
July 7, 2011
Posted in CFC Media Lab
Continuing our MUTEK interview series, we talk to AntiVJ artist Joanie Lemercier and producer Nicolas Boritch about their approach to mind-bending projected music visuals, their evolution from nightclub VJing to producing large-scale artistic collaborations, and their approach to working as a “visual label.”
Since 2005, AntiVJ has had a resounding influence on visuals in dance clubs, live music performance, and installations. Though they pioneered and perfected the usage of projection mapping – wherein carefully-aligned digital projections create illusions on unconventional surfaces – AntiVJ pledges allegiance to no technique, only a focus “on the use of projected light and its influence on our perception.”
Amon Tobin premieres ISAM at MUTEK
June 13, 2011
Posted in CFC Media Lab
Greetings! I’m Aylwin Lo, CFC Media Lab’s newest staff addition. As a Tech Coordinator, I provide technical and design support to many of the Media Lab’s exciting activities. Last week I took a trip out of the lab to attend the 12th edition of MUTEK, Montreal’s prestigious and groundbreaking festival for electronic music and digital art.
As in previous years, this year’s MUTEK promised an array of acts ranging from seasoned acts premiering their latest audio-visual work to up-and-comers making a break for it. One of our own current residents, Laurel McDonald, has performed at MUTEK and was recently featured on their website for her performance project combining vocals and visuals, Videovoce.
It was my privilege to be able to interview four of the acts performing at this year’s festival. We’ll be posting roughly an interview a week until they’re all up. Be sure to visit Stabletalk once a week if you aren’t already subscribed to our RSS feed or email updates.
