Ukiyo II Workshop June 1-June 6

[Yukihiko YOSHIDA]

The Centre for Contemporary and Digital Performance and DAP-Lab at School of the Arts, Brunel University (West London) announce:

 

Ukiyo 2

[Moveable World]

June 1 - June 6
Antonin Artaud Studio 101, Brunel University, Cleveland Rd., West London

After two labs at Brunel University (May 2009) and Keio University (December 2009), the forthcoming one is the third cross-cultural UKIYO workshop in performance, design and network technologies featuring artists and researchers from the DAP-Lab and Japanese partners from Keio University and Maison d'Artaud (Tokyo).

The project involves collaborative research experimentation conjoining artistic, technological and scientific disciplines. Based on a design libretto for the composition of a mixed reality installation -  Ukiyo  [Moveable World]-  the workshop develops performance concepts for linking physical performance spaces with virtual spaces/Second Life and a diverse range of innovative wearable design and programming, including:

- choreographies with interactional design and audio processing
- design for wearable garments and audiophonics
- photographic/videographic image composition for interactional performance
- scenographic concepts for real time processes in networked virtual environments
   (telematic and Second Life)
- avatar performance and animation
- programming of mixed reality environments
- analysis of sensory processing, polyphonics,  and multimodal perception

The workshop takes place every day from 14:oo to 21:3o in Antonin Artaud Studio 101. Interested observers are welcome. 

The UKIYO project will be concluded in June 2010 with the ensemble touring Slovenia, with public exhibitions of UKIYO 2 and a workshop held at KIBLA in Maribor.  In November/December  2010, the new production and wearable designs is projected for its London premiere, with the expected participation of Yoko Higashino and Baby Q Contemporary Dance Company.

Interested institutions and Art Centers can contact us about residencies and performances.

UKIYO 2
A mixed reality installation fusing dance, sound, design and digital projections

European première:   Friday, June 8, 2o:oo
KIBLA Media Art Center / Maribor, Slovenia
http://www.kibla.org/napovednik/?no_cache=1

presenting
dap-lab / dans sans joux

Conceived and directed by Johannes Birringer, the installation features audiophonic fashion design concepts and wearables by Michèle Danjoux, and choreography by Katsura Isobe, Helenna Ren, Anne-Laure Misme, Yiorgos Bakalos and Olu Taiwo; choreography on screen by Biyo Kikuchi, Kayoko Tokumitsu, Yumi Sagara, and Jun Makime; photography and  digital designs by  Paul Verity Smith and  Doros Polydorou; original music composed by Oded Ben-Tal, with live music composed and performed by Caroline Wilkins and digital sound and sensor interfaces by Sandy Finlayson. Scenography & lighting by Johannes Birringer.

"Ukiyo" explores the layers of perceptions in an audiovisual world that constantly shifts and fragments; the audience is invited to move in and around the space which features one of five hanamichi (runways) and several projection screens for the virtual world graphics. The dancers perform simultaneously with digital objects that are projected. The music and visual choreography for "Ukiyo" are designed for real-time gestural  interaction to animate the feedback system and generative algorithms through with the virtual space and the performer movements are intertwined.

"Ukiyo" is performed by an international ensemble of performers from the DAP-Lab whose work developed in collaboration with digital artists in Tokyo as part of a cross-cultural research venture in virtual environments directed by Birringer (director of DAP-Lab, and Center for Digital Performance, Brunel University, School of Arts) and co-coordinated by Yukihiko Yoshida (Keio University, Tokyo). The Second Life graphical interface and avatar choreography was designed and developed by Takeshi Kabata, Yukihito Obara and Ruby Rumiko Bessho. Additional engineering by Eng Tat Khoo (Keio-NUS CUTE Center & Mixed Reality Lab).
 
Website: http://people.brunel.ac.uk/dap/uikyo.html
For further information, call [phone] Or email:  Johannes.Birringer at brunel.ac.uk

This project is supported by a PMi2/connect British Council research cooperation Award, a grant by The Japan Foundation, and The Centre for Contemporary and Digital Performance at Brunel University