Culemborg: hoisting up a light.

How could I theatralize a normal action? I chose to hoist up a light from de Gelderlandfabriek in Culemborg with ropes and wheels.

A normal action which is done everyday in a theatre: a technician hoisting up material, a light.

This action is made theatrical by placing a spectator in the same space, and by adding dramatic music.

The performer in this work is the light, the co-performer is me, a person (technician) moving the light, guiding the spectator.

The experiments are done in the blackbox, for pratcial reasons (rigging points, height), but eventually I want to position it in a space and see the relation between the space and the action.










1.0. First try in theatralizing a normal action

The action of hoisting up the light is first shown, afterwards the same action is being dramatised by using a filmic music as soundscape, in this case the beginning soundtrack of Star Wars..

The Leitmotiv (musical phrase linked to a charachter) in the soundtrack is followed with the movements and the height of the light. Slower, faster, tension by being seated, light down, light up, light still...

The spectator is first led in in the dark, the light is switched on and hoisted up. Afterwards the spectator is asked to go outside. Secondly the spectator is led in in a lit space, they position themselves, the ambient light is switch off, the performing light on and the action is repeated with the soundtrack.







2.0. Second try, adapted, new music

The experiment consists of the same two parts, first without music, than ambient light, and with music.

But the music changed, now it's Lascio ch'io pianga, from Handel. The music is loud. 

It's a very emotional music. The spectator is still asked to go out inbetween.

2.1. Not going out anymore.

The experiment became one, no going out of the space, but staying in the same space fot both parts.

The transition, is me as a technician, opening the curtains, preparing for the next play. 

In the second part, the music is much softer, as if it would be playing in another space.





 


3.0.

The light placed at my desk. The relation to the space and to what this space is, or is wanting to be, plays a more important role.

The performance consists of the same two ports, althought the preparation time is now left out.

The music is pre-recorded, but played by me on a Melodica.









4.0.

The light is placed in a lit space. Everything is shown, the techniques, the light, the technician.

In the beginning the same action is shown, but without the technician being next to the light and close to the spectator. Now the technician is placed as a puppeteer above the spectator and performer.

 
 

Lights.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The main inspiration are gas-discharge lights. How can lights tell a story or start performing? What is the tension between lights.

To the category of gas-discharge lights I am counting the older streetlights, neon and fluorescents.

The lights I work with I call the lumières trouvées or found lights.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Start-up time of Sodium-vapor light.

The start-up time of my sodium-vapor light is 6 minutes and 30 seconds. What if the starting up is dramatised by using music under it? While the music is playing, the light is slowly starting up and emitting more and more light.

In this work the light is the main performer.

During the 6 minutes and 30 seconds, the spectator is allowed to move around or do as they please, sit, dance, stand...At the end the light is switched off, the space is covered in darkness and the spectator is asked to leave the space.

When the light is switched on, the space suddendly lits up and becomes visible.


To-do: what is the relation between a space and a light? Can it start telling a narrative?


TO CONTINUE WORKING ON

 
 
 
 
 

Boundary of a Light

What is the boundary of a light?

What is the limit where one can be unseen or in the shadow?

What is a light alone in the space meaning?

 
 

Combination of boundary and scale

A small light only becomes visible once it's lit, before this moment, it's left in darkness...

 
 

Scale of a Light

Playing with a small scale light. 

Creating a duality if the same type of light is shown in real scale.