In the context of performance, digital media plays an important role in creating a sense of illusion, making the impossible possible, and giving visual properties to otherwise invisible entities. Lately we’ve seen many visual artists focus their attentions on the performance sector to create collaborative, multi-disciplinary work that merges together different practices and creative approaches to create performance based experiences that feel entirely new.One such experiment is A4, a multimedia performance that features Korean pianist Jin Wook Lee and the collaborative visuals of Lumpens and Octamin. Opening with a black backdrop and a free-floating white sheet in the foreground, the performance pairs projection with live piano improvisation, synchronizing the audio-reactive visuals with the experimental music composition. Each pizzicato chord struck by the pianist seems to pluck at the undulating sheet. Several minutes into the performance, the pianist uses a golf ball to demonstrate the prepared piano technique first coined and popularized by experimental composer John Cage, placing the golf ball between or on the piano strings to alter the timbre. With gradual progression, Lee moves into Henry Cowell's string piano technique, directly playing on the strings of his piano and entangling the sheet in nebulous confusion with this avant-garde approach.This performance piece is part of Lumpens' ongoing project, VAJP which pairs his innovative projections with other mediums of performance art including dance and live music. A4 is one of a four-part series debuted at his third VAJP, demonstrating once again his illuminated versatility. For this performance series, Lumpens also re-introduced an extended take on the mind-etching union with contemporary dancer Jason Ahn. But the real highlight of the series was an exhilarating performance with breakdancer Duck-hyun Kim AKA Ducky, who traverses the thin lines of an illuminated digital abyss in GRID.As one of the leading breakdancers in the world renowned Drifters Crew (Korea), Ducky displays exceptional endurance, a characteristic widely recognized amongst Korean b-boys. Just check out the controlled powermoves in his choreography. Lumpens highlights the dancer's artistic athleticism through a challenging integration of visual and auditory components. The silhouette of Ducky's toprock, footwork, and freezes gradually complement the glowing perpendicular lines until the momentum climaxes; and he basically jumps into this linear abyss.Who knew that pairing breakdancing with projected visuals would be such an enthralling combination? We’re surprised those projector beams didn’t blind Ducky and break his concentration. Regardless, we’re looking forward to see what sort of wild and wonderful performances Lumpens has in store in his next and final VAJP series. If you happen to find yourself at Coachella this week, be sure to stop by our tent to check out Lumpens’ interactive installation, Punch.
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