EXPLOSION LIGHT ORGAN
“A spacecraft in search of connection”
Rationale
It bangs and it explodes. Beams of light dance to rhythmic explosions and soundscapes. The Explosion Light Organ (ELO) brings a bewildering experience, a constellation from outer space that seems to have briefly landed on earth. Three massive light sources swirl vibrating light signals into the pitch-black ether. The meaning of all this remains mysterious, but making contact with humanity seems to be the goal.
In massive steel tubes, controlled gas explosions take place. Their loud bangs are blended into rhythms. Experimental musician Richard van Kruysdijk captures their sounds and uses analog effect equipment to transform them into extraterrestrial soundscapes. This live soundscape is scattered over the audience through three huge steel horns. Each performance is created intuitively on what’s available and therefore unique.
This is the third work that Kinetic Humor has created with renovated WWII searchlights (known as ‘Carbon Arcs’) in the setup. In this edition, they engage in experimental interaction. The three searchlights shine powerfully straight up through three water-filled, deformable lenses. The vibrations of the music change the shape of the lenses, thus transforming every light beam that goes into the air. This means that the light beams shooting into the sky continuously change in shape and pattern. You will never be able to see the same image twice.
Year: 2023
2023 Glow Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Video ELO at Glow I Eindhoven
Video Glow II
Video ELO at Glow Eindhoven – short
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The work of Ivo Schoofs (1972), is a celebration of movement in its most natural occurrence; based on natural and physical phenomena, gravity, heat, light, friction and wonder. The work offers the spectator(s), through large-scale audio-visual installations, an experience to return to the base of the forces of natural movement. Technology and science are made visible and sometimes, if possible, comprehensive. The black boxes are opened, the oil can be smelled and the gears are rotating. New sensory experiences and insights are formed upon a base of nature itself.
Pepe Heijnen (1978) is interested in connecting technology and art. Since childhood, he has been working with cables, ropes, and other connections. As a broadly trained electrical engineer in high and low voltage, he specializes in electronics and automation. Due to his wonder for machinery and motion, physics, lightning, and the world of Nikola Tesla, he is fascinated by tying up technical loose ends in art, fiction, and experience. Pepe has created several works for GLOW and other light art festivals.
Richard van Kruysdijk specializes in hybrid forms of multimedia art and live performance. Under the name Epic Rick, he creates a large amount of analog effects and intuitive soundscapes, where improvisation plays a significant role. In addition to his visual work, he also works as a producer composer and multi-instrumentalist on music projects, ranging from post-punk to electronic drone, from multimedia theater productions to industrial techno. He is also involved as a composer and live musician with various (inter)national dance companies. His musical work can be heard on numerous releases and on stages all over the world, from alternative pop clubs to avant-garde festivals and theaters.
