In the late 1990’s VJ’s (video jockeys) began making the visually static performances by disc jockeys in clubs more attractive by projecting video images to accompany the music. One of the pioneers of VJ-ing was Geert Mul. De Vleeshal invited Mul to apply his experiences in clubs to a museum setting. The result was the installation Generating Live.
Photo(s): Leo van Kampen
Generating Live consisted of four large screens onto which video images were projected, a massive sound system, twenty-four powerful lights and a light mixing desk. The different components of this installation were integrated completely through the use of computers. Specially designed software generated ever new, synchronized settings of light, sound and images on the spot, at De Vleeshal.
One 20 minute cycle followed another: as in a film, with an opening scene, some scenes in the middle, a denouement and a closing scene. The opening scene introduced different images, sounds and light settings, in the same way as different characters are introduced in a film. These were then further explored in the following scenes, to subsequently come together again at the end (the denouement). A relativising distance was then provided by the closing scene, or the credits.
Aided by the specially developed software, this underlying abstract structure enabled each type of scene to enfold according to the same pattern, and also allowed the different types of scenes in each cycle to consist of different combinations of images, sounds and light settings. Thus, through video, light and sound, the endless self generating epos Generating Live came into being.
To highlight the scope of Geert Mul`s and Jochem Paap`s work, De Vleeshal organized a free concert by Geert Mul and Speedy J (Jochem Paap) in Middelburg on 1 September 2000. De Vleeshal also opened on Friday and Saturday nights, prior to clubs’ opening times.
With thanks to: Haine Audio, Vidi-Square, de Mondriaan Stichting en de Drukkery, Winkel in woord, beeld en geluid. Software: Epic Generator by V2_Lab and Geert Mul; Max M5P by Cycling 74.
exhibitions
tags: geert mul
