Wezen - Chrysalis
A cocoon lies on stage, barely recognisable in the dim light. An almost static chord is sounding in the space. The light changes in color – the chord is changing slowly in pitch and texture. The cocoon seems to move – the light seems to get brighter and gradually shift color. Suddenly a fast movement – a sound erupts into the space, the light flashes – then again everything quiets down – the movement, the sound, the light.
Chrysalis is a performative environment where the focus is on slow movements – becoming aware of the minimal movements of the body, both conscious and unconscious movements. It is about interaction on a long timescale – involving multiple senses (hearing, sight, haptic).
Chrysalis - a teaser from Marije Baalman on Vimeo.
Focus on indirectness
- physical structure that in which the body is entangled and that amplifies movement
- sensing is on this physical structure and not directly on the body
- the sensor data is processed in a complex algorithm with memory
First version using a physics simulation of a mass-spring system (with many elements) in which forces are controlled by realtime sensor data
Currently experimenting with techniques from machine learning and dynamical systems: recurrent neural networks and conceptors for recognising movement patterns and generating patterns
Up to now, Chrysalis has been presented as a solo performance, but future directions include making this work into an installation - and possibly a dance piece with two dancers.
For the installation I imagine having multiple of these cocoons for participants to enter.
Read more at Chrysalis project blog
