[Oct. 9 & 10] Angie Eng: Liminal

Liminal is a multimedia performance that continues the tradition of visual music by combining new inventive tools such as the VideoBass, French avant garde experimental cinema tricks and customized music/video software (Max, Jitter, VDMX and Module 8). This collaboration of music and video crosses genres: experimental jazz, neo-abstract expressionism, puppetry and live experimental cinema. The performance will be followed by an artist’s talk on Oct. 10th 7 pm at Harvestworks with Anyma (programmer Michael Egger/Maite Colin). Supported by ProHelvetia Swiss Arts Council, mediaThe foundation inc, Experimental Television Finishing/Presentation Funds and the Foundation for Contemporary Art.

[Oct 9/10 2011] Liminal

Angie Eng: Director/video/VideoBass
Nancy Meli Walker: live camera
Satoshi Takeshi: percussion/electronics
Shoko Nagai: piano
Audrey Chen: cello/electronics
Michael Egger:  MAX programmer

link to the project: http://angieeng.com/blog/?page_id=789

1) PERFORMANCE Oct 9 – together with Mari Kimura: Eigenspace
Sun, Oct 9th, 2011 at 8pm
ROULETTE – www.roulette.org
509 Atlantic Ave (at 3rd Ave)
2, 3, 4, 5, C, G, D, M, N, R, B & Q trains and the LIRR
Cost: $15 General Admission, $10 Members/Students/Seniors

2) ARTIST TALK Oct 10 with Anyma (Michael Egger/Maite Colin)
Mon, Oct 10, 2011, 7pm
Harvestworks – www.harvestworks.org
596 Broadway, #602 | New York, NY 10012 | Phone: 212-431-1130
Subway: F/M/D/B Broadway/Lafayette, R Prince, 6 Bleeker
FREE

Liminal is a multimedia performance that continues the tradition of visual music by combining new inventive tools such as the VideoBass, French avant garde experimental cinema tricks and customized music/video software (Max, Jitter, VDMX and Module 8). This collaboration of music and video crosses genres: experimental jazz, neo-abstract expressionism, puppetry and live experimental cinema.

Liminal is made up of a a series of live video music cinepoems based upon the concept of liminality, coined by ethnologist, Arnold Van Gennep (1909). Van Gennep defines liminality as the period of transition in traditional rituals after detachment and before integration of the group.  Symbols of  liminality (eclipse, ceremonial mask, isolation, fear, bridges, wilderness, pilgrimage) and sociological explanations (crisis, mania, ghosts, draught)  are integrated into the video with: live drawing, manipulated object, archival footage and video shot by Eng. In one of the cinepoems, Monsters, Eng describes fear inherent in developmental rituals by drawing portraits of film stills taken from classic horror films such as Dracula, Daughters of Horror and Nosferatu. The rhythm of  frantic hand gestures is in dialogue with unpredictable and aggressive playing of the cello. Another cinepoem, Bridging combines  magic squares  with archival footage of men crossing and jumping on bridges. In Ancestor, a rock is placed central while drawings of Tibetan figures undergoing healing rituals mixed are with such archival footage of the first flight inventions.

For the premiere of Liminal on October 9, 2011 during the closing of the New York Electronic festival, Eng will introduce her new instrument the VideoBass invented by swiss engineer/artist Michael Egger. The VideoBass is an unique hardware/software-combination for controlling live-visuals. Shaped like a electric bass-guitar, it relies on the guitar-paradigm where, the left hand chooses between a wide variety of possible notes, and the right hand triggers them, nobs change digital effects and a foot pedal captures a live feed. Eng commissioned Egger to develop a customized VideoBass which he has been developing since 2003. She will introduce the VideoBass in a 20 video piece with music composed by Takeishi.

Support for this project was also provided by:

Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council
Experimental Television Finishing Funds
mediaThe foundation inc.
The MacDowell Colony for the Arts.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts

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