20 - 23 OCTOBER 2010 INFORMATION + PROGRAMME
INDEX Apparat LAB Platform4
Page 04 Page 05
Workshop: Derek Holzer Sune Petersen Sami Sänpäkilla
Page 06 Page 08 Page 10
Performance: Tim Hecker Javier Milara / Raquel Espinosa Flo Kaufmann Max Hattler / Mehmet Can Özer / Christian Skjødt Kiloton
Page 12 Page 14 Page 16 Page 18 Page 22
Installation: Lars Lundehave Hansen Zimoun
Page 24 Page 26
Open Call Apparat LAB Online
Page 28 Page 29
Programme
Page 30
Behind Apparat LAB Partners
Page 34 Page 35
Less text, more to experience
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APPARAT LAB – EXPERIMENTS IN SOUND AND VISUAL ARTS The experimental laboratory opens up its gates for the public and invites to a transformed universe where contemporary art and technology pieces are going to fill time and space in the old East Harbour warehouse, Platform4 – in the period of 20-23rd October. Various installations, live performances and workshops will be presented in a unique festival setup regarding the spatial frames. Visitors will get to be a part of an ‘artworld’ where different genres meet in one big lab. Several national and international artists and artist groups will be hosted by the festival – all from the field of experimental sound, visual and performative arts. During Apparat LAB several new works will be displayed and performed. Participants are invited inside for a non-linear experience and interaction with the performative space through a series of workshops and performances that challenge the form of the participatory the arts scene has and brings the spectator’s role into focus in an expanded concept of art. The event is a collaboration between Platform4s curator group, the festival Apart and the TS Collective / Liquid Borderland.
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PLATFORM4 The host and main venue of Apparat LAB is Platform4. Platform4 is an open space for artistic and technological entrepreneurs, projects and expression. The building houses concerts, exhibitions, creative Co-Working Spaces and much more – all in the sphere of technology and art. Platform4 is a non-profit organisation and is driven by it’s users. Website: http://www.platform4.dk Address: Platform4, Rapsgade 4, 9000 Aalborg PAGE 05
DEREK HOLZER Derek Holzer (1972) is an American sound artist living in Berlin, whose current interests include DIY analog electronics, sound art, field recording, and the meeting points of electroacoustics, noise, impro and extreme music. He has played live experimental sound, as well as taught instrument building and audio recording workshops across Europe, North America, Brazil and New Zealand. Holzer is currently a fellow at the KHM (Kunsthochschule fĂźr Medien KĂśln) in Cologne. Website: http://macumbista.net/ PAGE 06
WORKSHOP + PERFORMANCE NEANDERTHAL ELECTRONICS Holzer will run a four-days long workshop under the title Neanderthal Electronics, where the participants will construct their own personal analog synthesizers and in the end they will collaborate in a public performance. During this workshop, both simple-primitive/found objects and modern devices (capacitors, transistors, LEDs, sensors and different audio inputs etc) will be applied in order to achieve the perfect, and very personal sound environment. Beside leading the noise-workshop, Holzer will perform himself as well. A solo and improvised performance will be presented by him and a bunch of analog sound equipment.
Workshop: 20/10 12.00-16.00 21/10 + 22/10 16.00-20.00 23/10 12.00-16.00
Utzon Center Utzon Center Utzon Center
Performance by workshop participants + Performance by Derek Holzer: 23/10 20.00+21.00 Platform4
SUNE PETERSEN Sune is an engineer specialized in submersive interactive performance, and he has participated in various projects involving perfomances and installations using modular real time visual software. Currently Sune teaches at Art and Technology at Aalborg University. Website: http://galakse.dk/
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WORKSHOP + INSTALLATION DATA VISUALIZATION Our daily lives are increasingly filled with steadily flowing information. Through an appropriate visualization and presentation it is possible to place focus on relations that otherwise can be difficult to discover and grasp. The workshop participant will be introduced to various examples of data visualizations which place focus on specific issues. The student will also get an introduction to- and working with- retrieveing and visualizing data. The course will be held as an intensive workshop over 4 days, where the student will work with online data sources like pachube, twitter and Facebook. The workshop participant will through the workshop make simple visualizations using the graphical programming environment vvvv. Workshop: 20/10 12.00-16.00 21/10 + 22/10 16.00-20.00 23/10 12.00-16.00
Platform4 Platform4 Platform4
Installation/Performance by workshop participants: 23/10 16.00-24.00 Platform4
SAMI SÄNPÄKKILÄ Sami Sänpäkkilä aka Es lives and works near the forests of Tampere, Finland. He is a musician, film-maker and the head of Fonal Records. To date he has released five full lenght releases under the name Es. Sami has made tens of short films and music videos which have been screened in various museums, art galleries and film festivals around the world. The films and the music are experimental moodscapes that explore the themes of melancholy, pathos and hope. Website: http://samisanpakkila.com/
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WORKSHOP + INSTALLATION SECRET LIFE ON AN ARTIST Participants are encouraged to bring their own artwork to the workshop, and together discuss their meaning and the reasons why they were made. What gives a piece of art it’s validity, and how do we convey that to the audience?
INSTALLATION Sami Sänpäkilla is going to present a new video piece made on location during the days of Apparat LAB.
Workshop: 21/10 16.00-20.00
Toldboden
Installation by Sami Sänpäkkilä: 22/10 18.00-24.00 Platform4 23/10 16.00-24.00 Platform4
TIM HECKER Tim Hecker is a Canadian-based musician and sound artist, born in Vancouver. Since 1996, he has produced a range of audio works for Kranky, Alien8, Mille Plateaux, Room40, Force Inc, Staalplaat, and Fat Cat. His works have been described as “structured ambient”, “tectonic color plates” and “cathedral electronic music”. More to the point, he has focused on exploring the intersection of noise, dissonance and melody, fostering an approach to songcraft which is both physical and emotive. Website: http://www.sunblind.net
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PERFORMANCE
The New York Times has described his work as “foreboding, abstract pieces in which static and sub-bass rumbles open up around slow moving notes and chords, like fissures in the earth waiting to swallow them whole”. His Harmony in Ultraviolet received critical acclaim, including being recognized by Pitchfork as a top recording of 2006. Radio Amor was also recognized as a key recording of 2003 by Wire magazine. His work has also included commissions for contemporary dance, soundart installations, minimal techo works under the name ‘Jetone’, as well as various writings. Tim has presented his work in a live setting around the world, including performances at Sonar (Barcelona), Mutek (Montreal), Primavera Sound (Barcelona), Victoriaville (Quebec), Vancouver New Music Festival (Vancouver), and Transmediale (Berlin). He currently resides in Montreal.
Performance by Tim Hecker: 23/10 23.00 Platform4
JAVIER MILARA Javier Milara currently lives and work in Aalborg, and is a transdisciplinary creator with an architectural education as background. He has wide experience as a photographer, and with graphic and audiovisual design. As an art director, he has designed and produced immersive video installations since the year 2000. Moreover he is researching the potential that non-tectonic devices have in the generation of spatial sensations. Last but not less, as a professional visualist, he is specialized in audiovisual live performance. Website: http://javiermilara.net/
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PERFORMANCE
JAVIER MILARA & RAQUEL ESPINOSA Raquel Espinosa is a performer, with training in contemporary dance, butoh and flamenco. Her field of work focuses on the place where the body meets new technologies. At the moment she is researching audiovisual live performing, producing videoinstallation. Experience an extraordinary live art performance at the opening of Apparat LAB with flamenco dancer and performance artist Raquel and the transdisciplinary visual creator Javier. Also: Audiovisual performance by Flo Kaufmann and Javier Milara - page 16
Performance by Javier Milara and Raquel Espinosa: 20/10 19.00 Platform4 Performance by Flo Kaufmann and Javier Milara: 22/10 21.00 Platform4
FLO KAUFMANN On his long trip he carries a big bag of improvisation, turntablism and ambient dub around the world. He works with home-made instruments out of electronic junk, self-made records, analogue synthesizers, weird keyboards‌.. In his work the borders between fine arts, scientific work and music vanish in a strong electromagnetic cloud. Technological flotsam like typewriters, vacuum cleaners or x-ray machines are converted into electronic music instruments, objects or interactive installations. Recurring subjects are mechanical sound recording, clandestine technology and useless machines. Website: www.floka.com PAGE 16
PERFORMANCE + INSTALLATION FLO KAUFMANN & JAVIER MILARA Flo Kaufmann will make a koncert performance in collaboration with the visual artist Javier Milara. Together they will make a live audiovisual experience which should not be missed.
Also: Installation by Zimoun featuring sound art by Flo Kaufmann - page 26
Installation by Zimoun and Flo Kaufmann: 20/10 19.00-22.00 Platform4 21/10 16.00-21.00 Platform4 22/10 18.00-24.00 Platform4 23/10 16.00-24.00 Platform4 Performance by Flo Kaufmann and Javier Milara: 22/10 21.00 Platform4
ASURE The project “Aşure” (pronounced as Ishuré) is an audiovisual concert series which consists of live electronics by Turkish composer Mehmet Can Özer, live visuals by Max Hattler and a live improvisation by an invited musician. For each concert a different musician is invited to take part. For the concert at Apparat LAB, the Danish musician Christian Skjødt is invited as a part of the performance. Max Hattler: http://www.maxhattler.com/ Mehmet Can Özer: http://www.mehmetcanozer.com Christian Skjødt: http://www.skjodt.net/ PAGE 18
PERFORMANCE
MAX HATTLER Max Hattler is an animation filmmaker and media artist interested in the space between abstraction and figuration in the moving image, where storytelling is freed from the constraints of traditional narrative. He works across the fields of short film, music video, installation and audio-visual live performance, and has collaborated with bands including Basement Jaxx, Jemapur, The Egg, Ladyscraper, and his dad’s outfit Hattler. Max has shown his award-winning experimental films at hundreds of festivals worldwide, including the British Animation Awards, EMAF, Onedotzero, Resfest, Rotterdam, Image Forum Festival, Annecy Animation Festival and Animafest Zagreb. He has performed live audiovisuals across Europe, Asia and the Americas, including London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, Media Art Friesland, Curtas Vila do Conde, The Animation Show, and SuperDeluxe Tokyo. Max graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2005 with an MA in Animation, and is currently doing a Professional Doctorate in Fine Art. He is signed to Partizan worldwide.
Mehmet Can Özer / Christian Skjødt >>>
MEHMET CAN ÖZER Mehmet Can Özer was born in 1981. His professional career started when he was accepted to Bilkent University FMPA composition division with full scholarship. After graduating, he was accepted to Conservatoire de Géneve. In 2005 he moved to Turkey and took a job in Baskent University as a Lecturer. He took part in the HaliciMidi Composition Competition (1998), Bourges International Electroacoustic Music Competition (2003, 2007), received the Goethe Institute Artist Award (2006) and SWR Experimental Studio Grant (2008). He has performed in several international festivals such as Bourges (France), AudioArt (Poland), Remusica (Kosovo), Busan Biennale (Korea), Pyramidale (Germany), Acousmania (Romania), SMC (Greece), Generator (Switzerland), Electro-Globe (Belgium), Create (USA) and EMUfest (Italy). Apart from being commissioned at home, he received commissions from I.M.E.B. (France) and Musiques-Recherches (Belgium) and has been invited from their studios to realize a piece. In 2005 he has started an electroacoustic music concert series in Ankara and organized many concerts up to the present day. In 2008, he has commissioned by Goethe Institute for Ernest Lubitsch’s silent movie “The Oyster Princess” and gave improvised concerts through Turkey. Currently he is working on his software “Aşure” and giving concerts with it. Mehmet Can Özer’s instrumental compositions also played in various places and he continues to write for both instruments and electronics.
CHRISTIAN SKJØDT Musician Christian Skjødt mainly works with improvised music and has a great interest in the interaction between different art forms. He has received several awards for his music and is involved in a huge amount of projects, including curating and managing the record label Tonometer Music. He’s also a part of the four-person group organizing and curating Apparat LAB.
Performance by Max Hattler, Mehmet Can Özer and Christian Skjødt: 22/10 22.00 Platform4
KILOTON Kiloton’s impressive live performances draw its listener into his sphere of mesmerizing reverberations With a sound with distinct references to the instrumental dub-music of Jamaica, but in a more brisk version, which in interplay with the crackling sound fragments from the radio receiver creates an emotional expression that communicates without words. An almost lost language. Kiloton’s many performances has granted him great recognition among fellow producers as well as among the crowds. Website: http://kiloton.dk/ PAGE 22
PERFORMANCE
For over two years Kiloton have elegantly recorded, edited, manipulated, distorted and modulated the crackling – and globally originating – short wave sound samples to form pieces in the complex, melodic and challenging puzzle that is his musical creativity. Having produced and performed for several years as well as contributed to several releases both domestically and abroad, Kiloton aka. Mads Weitling now finally releases his solodebut ‘Language Lost’. An abstract, wordless and dark dreamy album that carries a distinct nordic tone. Characterized by sharp, abrupt rhythms under deep, smouldering and crackling dubscapes, Kiloton has developed an almost cinematic sound that leads its listener through changing moods; beatiful and sincere as well as melancholic and thoughtful.
Performance by Kiloton: 23/10 22.00 Platform4
LARS LUNDEHAVE HANSEN Lars Lundehave Hansen, has spent more than a decade promoting sound art and other noise-related activities through, the now defunct, legendary organisation Noisejihad. An organization founded in 1997, having since then presented numerous notabilities in Denmark and promoted Danish acts abroad. He is also the brain behind renowned Danish drone act Wäldchengarten; – a joint venture-project with Dennis L. Hansen. Wäldchengarten has several releases on various international labels such as Desolation House / Relapse, Drone Records and Phisteria, as well as a history of extensive touring all over the world. Website: http://blog.monoeffect.com PAGE 24
INSTALLATION
SOUNDGATE The aim of the project organized by Lars Lundehave Hansen is through a selection of spaces to target a broad audience in order to promote sound art and “cutting edge”-music to new and hopefully curious ears. Experience the SoundGate at Kunsten(the museum of modern art), Utzon Centre (the architectural centre) and here at the Apparat LAB. The audience will only be able to access the sound at selected spaces through high quality headphones. There’s no audience interaction such as skipping, fast-forwarding or stopping. This clearly challenges new concepts such as ”on-demand” and requires old school skills such as patience, and thus hopefully stimulates focus on the actual work. The project only requires one action from the ”user”: Listening!
Installation by Lars Lundehave Hansen: 20/10 19.00-22.00 Platform4 21/10 16.00-21.00 Platform4 22/10 18.00-24.00 Platform4 23/10 16.00-24.00 Platform4
ZIMOUN Zimoun, born in Switzerland in 1977, is autodidact and residing in Bern. To develope his work he has often collaborated with other artists and experts working in related fields (developement, architecture, science, research, engineeing,‌ Zimoun is interested in an artistic research of simple and elegant systems to generate and study complex behaviours in sound and motion. He creates sound pieces from basic components, often using multiples of the same prepared mechanical elements to examine the creation and degeneration of patterns. Website: http://zimoun.ch/index.html PAGE 26
INSTALLATION
ZIMOUN & FLO KAUFMANN Zimoun will exhibit a large video installation accompanied by Flo Kaufmann’s immersive experimental sound art which gives the good opportunity to experience what some already said: The combination of sonic and visual beauty with a delightful sense of playfulness is just breath-taking. [Guy Klucevsek]
Installation by Zimoun and Flo Kaufmann: 20/10 19.00-22.00 Platform4 21/10 16.00-21.00 Platform4 22/10 18.00-24.00 Platform4 23/10 16.00-24.00 Platform4
OPEN CALL Apparat LAB has encouraged artists from around the world to present their works at Apparat festival. Artists have applied to present various projects within different art and media genres - installation, media technology, video, and more - and they will exhibit their works alongside the other installations at Apparat LAB. The projects of the Open Call participants can be experienced in the Apparat LAB opening hours: 20/10 19.00-22.00 Platform4 21/10 16.00-21.00 Platform4 22/10 18.00-24.00 Platform4 23/10 16.00-24.00 Platform4 PAGE 28
APPARAT LAB ONLINE The Apparat LAB webpage has been planned as an dynamic and integrated part of the festival since the planning of Apparat LAB began. Throughout the process of building the festival, new information about the programme, the artists and their works has been posted simultaneously, with the purpose to give an experience of insight and transparency to the Apparat LAB process. During the days of the Apparat LAB festival, it will be possible to follow the events and information about the various installations and workshops as they progress, and experience media surrounding the festival. After the Apparat LAB programme is over, there will be an aftermath of documentation, media and experiences from the festival that will continue to appear on the webpage. Read indepth descriptions about the Apparat LAB programme, and explore media from the different artists online at: http://www.apparatlab.dk
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PROGRAMME WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20 Workshop: Neanderthal Electronics by Derek Holzer 12.00-16.00 Utzon Center, Slotspladsen 4 Data Visualization by Sune Petersen 12.00-16.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Installation: Soundgate by Lars Lundehave Hansen Zimoun and Flo Kaufmann Works from Open Call 19.00-22.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Performance: Javier Milara and Raquel Espinosa 19.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4
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PROGRAMME THURSDAY OCTOBER 21 Workshop: Neanderthal Electronics by Derek Holzer 16.00-20.00 Utzon Center, Slotspladsen 4 Data Visualization by Sune Petersen 16.00-20.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Secret Life on an Artist by Sami S채np채kkil채 16.00-20.00 Toldboden, Strandvejen1 Installation: Soundgate by Lars Lundehave Hansen Zimoun and Flo Kaufmann Works from Open Call 16.00-21.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4
PROGRAMME FRIDAY OCTOBER 22 Workshop: Neanderthal Electronics by Derek Holzer 16.00-20.00 Utzon Center, Slotspladsen 4 Data Visualization by Sune Petersen 16.00-20.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Installation: Soundgate by Lars Lundehave Hansen Zimoun and Flo Kaufmann Sämi Sänpäkkilä Works from Open Call 18.00-24.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Performance: Flo Kaufmann and Javier Milara 21.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Max Hattler, Mehmet Can Özer and Christian Skjødt 22.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Works from Open Call 23.00
Platform4, Rapsgade 4
PROGRAMME SATURDAY OCTOBER 23 Workshop: Neanderthal Electronics by Derek Holzer 12.00-16.00 Utzon Center, Slotspladsen 4 Data Visualization by Sune Petersen 12.00-16.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Installation: Soundgate by Lars Lundehave Hansen Zimoun and Flo Kaufmann S채mi S채np채kkil채 Sune Petersen / workshop participants Works from Open Call 16.00-24.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Performance: Derek Holzer / workshop participants 20.00 Platform4, Rapsgade 4 Derek Holzer 21.00
Platform4, Rapsgade 4
Kiloton 22.00
Platform4, Rapsgade 4
Tim Hecker 23.00
Platform4, Rapsgade 4
BEHIND APPARAT LAB
Apparat LAB is arranged and hosted by Platform4.
Platform4 is supported by Aalborg University and The City of Aalborg.
The event is a collaboration between Platform4s curator group, the festival Apart and the TS Collective / Liquid Borderland. Apparat LAB management and curating: Edit Emese Vizer Martin Lynge Christian Skjødt Yngve BrÌkka Stensaker PAGE 34
PARTNERS
Apparat LAB is a part of: Port 2010 - Contemporary Art Festival.
Financial Support: Kulturaftale Nordjylland
Workshop - Neanderthal Electronics: Location hosted by Utzon Center.
Workshop - Data Visualization: Collaboration with Art & Technology, Aalborg University. PAGE 35
Apparat LAB event location: Platform4, Rapsgade 4, 9000 Aalborg