A slightly elevated and imposing neo-gothic clock occupies the center of a space, ticking steadily. Over the course of several minutes, it slowly unfolds the unexpected splendor of a huge crown of peacock feathers while increasingly flooding the room with sound.
Fully erect, the clock dominates the space for a while to then subside; its feathery crown sinking in front of it.
Eventually all elements return to their home positions so that another cycle of automated self-augmentation, of algorithmic art referencing basic bodily functions and dominant behavior can commence.
Anschwellen – Abschwellen is a performance apparatus based on a modern sensor system. Its sheer size and slow algorithmical movements are an ironic reference to today’s ever smaller and more intricate digital instruments.
Project Credits:
- With support of the City of Vienna MA7
- Volkmar Klien concept & production
- Hannes Köcher motor control, sensor system
- Jakob Posti production assistant, feather expert
Biography:
Volkmar Klien (AT): Growing up in Vienna Volkmar Klien spent his childhood engulfed in the city’s rich musical life with all its glorious traditions and engrained rituals. Working from this background, Volkmar Klien today strives to extend traditional practices of composing, producing and listening far beyond the established settings of concert music. He is a professor for composition at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz (Austria).
http://www.volkmarklien.com
