Video Installation Theory
One of the best things about video installation is that the setup for the practical side is fairly simple. With only a laptop, power supply and a projector you can broadcast a wonder of creative things and change and manipulate images to your will.
Changing people's perceptions of something whether it's space or time is one of the core benefits of using video installation as a tool.
Using a program called VPT7 we are able to create whole new worlds and manipulate objects to suit our own ends. Another program called 'mad mapper' is available but at a cost. We use VPT7 as a cost effective alternative.
Artists
1024
To start we will look into the work of the company 1024.
Based in and around France,1024 was created by two individuals called Pierre Schneider and Francois Wunschel. Their main focus is making audio visual installations as well as different performances and micro architecture. They have produced some of the finest work in the field of video installation. They use different buildings sometimes of architectural value to create different works that vary, some works establish links between things like the body and space and higher tech art installations. They also seem to focus on working with a live audience who are there to participate in the art they have created this can be evidenced in a video called 'Perspective Lyrique' where what the audience was saying into a microphone was having a profound effect on the art that being witnessed and projected onto the building.
The voice interactive piece was set up and displayed in 2010 and had thousand come and participate in the art.
In 2013 1024 installed a new piece of art called 'Tesseract' The installation was a 3D cube that was sculptured and was equipped with a light that moved. The audience was invited to walk in and around. An array of light was mounted up the cube like structure and the light moved with the beat of this hyper techno song/sound. The intention of this installation was a glimpse into a futuristic world which ties in with their theme of showing things like a high tech world and catching a glimpse of it through art. Here is a amateur shot video of what the experience was like.
And here is a video from 1024's Vimeo page that details with fine detail all the different aspects of the piece and also shows the scale of what they were showing off and what they were achieving.
They wanted the installation to not be a sculpture itself with the intent for it to showcase the motion of an 'ever evolving' state of shape and space of which the audience is a part of. This again links in with their theme of space, future high tech stuff and using the audience as part of the art and using their experiences to fuel the art into reality.
The song they used to accompany the piece has a major effect on the art piece by having a profound effect on the audience. I think it was their intention to speed up the music and at the same time have the movement of the lights on the same beat. This almost confuses the audience with amazement which I think is their way of showing what the audience as people from the past would think of the futuristic world we are hurtling towards is has the awe inspiring talent of making the audience stare wide eyed and open mouthed at the 'Light show' as would people who are encountering this future tech would.
1024 co founded the the video mapping software 'mad mapper' which advertises itself as a simple and easy tool to use for video mapping. We haven't had the opportunity to use Mad Mapper but we have been privy to a few class exercises that were performed for us by Clive they went over some basics and overall i think it was a great learning experience.
I think overall `1024's work is outstanding and revolutionary for the video installation industry. They were one of the firsts and still are one of the best examples of video installation. I think their themes are extremely interesting and they always include some amazing intricate details in their work that just want to be appreciated and I find that fantastic!
Compared to other works in the area of video installation 1024 sometimes stand streets ahead. Using their technology they can inject live and spirit into a building, as seen with the Lyrique video by using their voice controlled interactive installation they gave life to the building as it twisted and morphed into different shapes and made what looks like twisted faces, the distortion that the building endured gave it almost a new purpose in life instead of housing plays and various production it housed emotions; fear, wonderment, confusion and I think that is what makes them stand out as video installation artists.
Limelight
Limelight is a company that specialises in light projections that are focused on buildings using high power projectors. Their creations are always designed for a specific purpose whether it's an event or certain occasion. Their aim for all their installations is to have an art installation that is perfectly mapped and has a colourful effect on all of the exhibition's visitors they focus on creating a profound effect on the audience's mind and to make it something they will not forget too soon.
Based in and around Hungary they have done multiple projections as commissioned by various hungarian companies for different events and occasions.
For example here they were asked to commemorate the opening of the biggest Audi factory in Hungary. The piece was a look back at the historical moments in Audi's history as a company. Here is video of said art installation.
As can be seen in the video they took the last 19 years of Audi's history and picked out the most historical moments in it and immortalised them in an installation. The intent of this piece is celebratory as they are all about creating something that celebrates the best moments in recent history for Audi. keeping in piece with their focus on wowing or creating a colourful experience for the audience that they will not forget.
Limelight uses very high power projectors which can be evidenced in the video because they are projecting onto about 5 or 6 huge screens these big heavy duty projectors are perfect for what Limelight sets out to achieve because most of their creations or projects are set up outside sometimes on big buildings.
Limelight uses very high power projectors which can be evidenced in the video because they are projecting onto about 5 or 6 huge screens these big heavy duty projectors are perfect for what Limelight sets out to achieve because most of their creations or projects are set up outside sometimes on big buildings.
Here Limelight were sponsored to help put on a installation at a Heritage festival. The intent of this piece is a cultural celebration of the city's heritage. in keeping with Limelights theme it contains many different colours and an outstanding array of patterns and designs. The piece was actually also a statement, with Limelight using the designs of different painters from the city as a basis of what they would be showing off.
Here is a video that shows the different intricate layers that the mapper who was designing the installation. The video shows the amazing level of detail and mapping skill that has gone into the installation with the amount of space that has to be covered on the cathedral. The individual skill that has been done by the mapper: Viktor Vicsek can really be appreciated here. You can see the absolutely see the meshing skill that this guy possesses as the building contains many arches that being circular can be quite hard to map around. Here is a link to the mappers Vimeo page
Personally I love Limelights work. I think that their installations are brilliant and beautiful. The amount of intricate work and level of detail they go into when mapping onto a building whether it's square or not is brilliant and shows that they have a perfect level of creativity and work ethic. Compared with an impression that they left on someone who commented on their Facebook. " I am fascinated by all videos and music, great emotions! Unbelievably captivating." I just about 100% agree that their work involves a lot of emotional content, especially when they are working with something they have a real passion for such as the heritage festival where they project their installation onto the cathedral to the local audience of people from the city
