Klaus Obermaier – Apparition


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What is Apparition?

Conceived and directed by Vienna-based cross-media artist Klaus Obermaier in collaboration with the Ars Electronica Futurelab, Apparition is a unique dance and media work that fully confronts the aesthetic potential and consequences of integrating interactive technologies with live performance on the stage.

Working closely with Obermaier there was an international team, including London-based dance artists Robert Tannion and Desireé Kongerød and interaction designers and programmers Christopher Lindinger and Peter Brandl (from the Ars Electronica Futurelab).  Development of the system for motion tracking and analysis was provided by Hirokazu Kato from Japan. (from artist’s website)

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Artist Statement on Apparition

What choreography emerges when software is your partner?
When virtual and actual image space share the same physics?
Where everything that moves on the stage is both interactive and independent?
And any form, dancing or still, can be transformed into a kinetic projection surface?

With these questions as the starting point Apparition takes interactive performance to another level through the creation of a unique stage work integrating live performance, sound, projection and an interactive system comprising real-time image generation and computer vision.

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Apparition Review

Austrian cross-media artist Klaus Obermaier offers a spellbinding glimpse into the brave new world of dance. Using state of the art technology, Obermaier projects light and images onto moving bodies, creating illusions that leave us gasping. Not only do the dancers seem to exist beyond gravity and to move at impossible speeds, they appear to shift shape, dissolve, mutate and even change their molecular structures. Obermaier’s latest work, Apparition, builds on that technology for yet more mind-bending effects, but also factors in opportunities for dancers Rob Tannion and Desiree Kongerod to activate the technology themselves. Yet more unpredictable, unanalysable magic. (The Guardian London, Judith Mackrell, Sept. 2004)

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Even if you don’t think of yourself as dance fan,  watch and enjoy the video of a segment from the full performance. It’s  a wonderfully exhilarating, magical  experience, dazzlingly digital!

Artist Bio

Klaus Obermaier studied visual arts at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and trained as a graphic designer at the HTL Linz/Austria. Since 2006 he is visiting professor at the University IUAV of Venice teaching directing and new media. He gives lectures at international art universities and institutions.

About the Artist

For over two decades media-artist, director/choreographer and composer Klaus Obermaier has been creating innovative works in the area of performing arts, music, theatre and new media, works that are highly acclaimed by critics and audiences.

His inter-media performances and artworks are shown at festivals and theaters throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australia.

He has worked with dancers of the Nederlands Dans Theater, Chris Haring, Robert Tannion (DV8), Desireé Kongerød (S.O.A.P. Dance Theatre Frankfurt).

He has composed for ensembles like Kronos Quartet, German Chamber Philharmonics, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Balanescu Quartet, among others.

Klaus Obermeier’s Website

Ars Electronica Website

posted by Carmelita Caruana




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