PIFcamp

ICTUSCORDIS is a new-media performance / audiovisual laboratory with the main subject being the artist’s heart. This project by Januš Aleš Luznar explores the interaction between art and psychology, between the physical and mental organism. Although they speak different languages that are difficult to translate, the artist searches for their coincidental and non conclusive parallels through which they communicate. In the first version of the ICTUSCORDIS “Heart Modulations”, which was developed and implemented in 2018 with the help of PIFcamp, the author’s heart is at the forefront of research. Januš Aleš Luznar explores the use of the Biofeedback method as an inspiration by manipulating the arousal, intensity and pace of his heart with various audio modulations. No pre-recorded sounds or samples are used to perform. 

ICTUSCORDIS – “Hearts Dialogue” is a new audiovisual contemporary dance performance based on the heartbeat of two performers in real time. With live music from the heart of the musician Januš Aleš Luznar and the choreography of contemporary dancer by Hungarian dancer Gyula Cserepes.

Sound will be captured by a customized piezo microphone with high sensitivity. The microphone will then be connected to the mixing table and the modulation effects that manipulate the sound of the heart into rhythmic and harmonic electronic music. The sound part of the project will be connected to the analogue audio signal. On the dancer, sensors of the movement “smart fabrics”, motion sensors and the heart rate sensor will be used, which Januš Aleš Luznar will develop at this year’s PIFcamp. The musical part of the performance will respond to the heart of the musician, while the visual content will be controlled with the heart and movement of the dancer. Visualizations and mystical abstract landscapes that will be used for performance will be carefully selected according to past experiences. The interaction of two artistic heartbeats will create a speculatively consistent synchronized mix of sound, visualization and dance.

“ICTUSCORDIS – Hearts Dialog” is an invitation to the audience into a dedicated artistic space and spiritual intimacy, to raise awareness through listening and observing. Finding yourself in the heart of another is to identify the connection between all.

“The initial material source of this project are app. 7000 negatives on 35mm film. When digitalised the search for the algorithm that would systematise the archive begins. The final outcome is  therefore analogue again; booklets of photographs that can lead you to the source material. In the background of the project there is a thought about the social power that lays behind the ownership of the archive, especially when archive becomes institutionalised.”

The piece is not done, yet the idea is clear: the cast in the form of a plastic cup: touchable, takeable, breakable. 
It will just burst in your hands if one grabs too hard. 

The piece should be read as a critic of the consumeristic world, the world of things and objects, that are not to be meant to last long. As an art piece, I imagine a table filled with this filigrain plastic cups made by sand; the audience is allowed to touch and take them, but then the pieces will just break in pieces and fall into the sand. 

I tested already different moulding and casting processes but could still not reach the wished results. I need to refine my research and material testing with the moulding and the casting process, as well as with the mould release agent. A part of this research will be done for sure before joining the PIFcamp, but I would like to create the final piece on site. Might certain material aspects (or local materials and productions ways) as well as exchange with other artists could help me in order to find the right production process.

Food is as migratory as the people who eat it. “Traditional” cuisine is not always comprised of ingredients local to the region. The modern pizza is Italian in origin, but tomatoes came from the Aztecs. American hot dogs came from German style wieners, but the act of stuffing ground meat into casings goes all the way back to the ancient Sumerians and Chinese. This contradictory notion of foreign ingredients in traditional local cuisine call into question the origin stories of “authentic”, regional food, and what defines authenticity.

“Home” Cooked is a physical manifestation of how distinct cultural traditions have been founded upon a longstanding history of global exchange and migration. It looks at how a foreign ingredient makes its way into a new country and integrates into a region’s existing food vocabulary. At the PIFcamp, we will research the origin stories of several key dishes from the region, design and test a game that tests player associations with Slovenian ingredients. Our goal is to create new associations by serving different methods of preparing the same food from other countries.

At its core, our game opens up a dialogue on how food acts as an ambassador between regions, highlighting distinct flavors different places bring despite using the same ingredients. The game is merely lubrication for the real art of it all, exchanges between completely different people bonding over love of something so integral to human experience – good food.

RogLab is visiting PIFcamp with the FaxBox machines and mentor Staš Vrenko! They are bringing 3D printers and a heat press machine, which can – when needed – also toast a sandwich for you!

RogLab is a creative hub established in 2012 as part of the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana. As a collaborative platform providing an encouraging environment for creators with its 3D workshop, RogLab responds to the challenges of today’s society and the urban environment by producing creative projects, while broadening the scope of its programme through a network of partner institutions. RogLab, Slovenia’s first public maker lab, gives creatives of all ages access to production tools and encourages the innovative and responsible use of maker technologies. FabBox is a mobile pocket-edition of RogLab’s maker lab, accompanied with a public workshop programme intended to raise interest in manufacturing and making.  

Mika Satomi & Magdalena Ågren are planning to work on a collaborative music performance project. Mika is an e-textile costume maker and Mag is a musician. Mika will make an e-textile costume for Mag that controls her analog synthesizers and other effects when she plays. Mag will shout through her trombones and megaphones. The eclectic duo is curious to experiment if the e-textiles tame or unleash the performer!

They hope to end the camp with a new performance by Mag with her new costume. They are open to collaborate or get inspired by other campers at the PIFcamp. Join them!

Join our node holder John Richards aka Dirty Electronics on a DIY circuit-bending journey!

Solder & Synonyms is a call to action that draws on sense of place and the picturesque surroundings of the Soča Valley and combines circuit building, writing text and critical thinking. Each day participants will spend time developing texts – for example, stories, poetry, manifesto, schemas, and abstract expressions – and building a DIY artwork circuit board where the text is stored on a microprocessor and “playedback” on a LCD. The text also forms the basis for digital wave-table sound synthesis. The writing part of the workshop offers a counter balance to focused indoor soldering and being tethered to mains electricity. Take inspiration from the natural environment. Wanderlust!

Statement

In 2017, I was first invited to Slovenia to give a workshop that brought together my interests in DIY circuit building and electronics and writing, which by chance took place at the birthplace of celebrated Slovene poet Valentin Vodnik. The circuit was prototypic, being assembled using wire-wrapping techniques and the frame of a wire coat hanger, and a LCD was used for scrolling text written by participants. In the build up to this workshop I’d discussed my interest in both writing music and text, and the semiotics of machines. I wanted to combine these interests with the creation of a singular object. Following this workshop, I’ve continued to explore alternative forms of publication: fanzines, booklets, text embedded on microchips, risograph printing, DIY printers and unorthodox printing formats. I’ve repeatedly stated that my next publication will take the form of one of my synths. Solder & Synonyms will make this happen. An artwork circuit board specially designed for the camp will become, not only a tabula rasa for my next publication, but also for PIFcamp attendees.

The wave-table sound synthesis and the circuit board will build on recent Dirty Electronics’ projects: 57mm, Radical Chip (with Max Wainwright) and Polytik synth.

We are announcing the first PIFcamp project MOTHeremin 2.0, and it coincides with our yamamai graphical identity! MOTHeremin is an analog electronic instrument for the blind and visually impared for learning about endagered lepidopterans of Slovenia developed by Staša Guček.

MOTHeremin, analog electronic instrument arose from the emerald waters of Soča Valley during PIFcamp Nature &Nerdture in 2018, surrounded by forests, mountains and night creatures – moths.

Electronic circuit of MOTHeremin, which is designed as a thorax of the moth, is based on the first electronic musical instrument called theremin. It was invented by a Russian physicist Leon Sergeyevich Theremin in 1920s. This is an unique instrument, because it can be played without touching it and only with changing the distance of users’ hands from two electrodes – antennas or sliding with fingers over the copper lines.

With a wish to spread awarness about rapid decline of insects (so called “windshield phenomen” – 2.5% rate of annual loss over the last 25-30 years, especially butterflies, moth and bees), Staša Guček is going to design an upgraded version of MOTHeremin with electronic circuits replicating patterns of the most endagered lepidopterans in Slovenia. Etched circuits on copper plates form a relief, therefore analog electronic instrument will become a learning sonic tool for the blind and visually impared. Sliding through the copper lines, patterns they will get to know the most endagered butterflies and moths of Slovenia not just through touch, but also through sound. Beside that users will be able to learn the basics of electricity flow and electronic components.

Along with this Staša will introduce you the world of fascinating and peculiar science facts, mythology, notes from literature, soundscapes and other stories about the multi-pattern flying creatures.

Before we close the open call for applications on May 20th we’d like to share this year’s node holders!

Kersikova bio hackers will once again join forces with Dario Cortese, our wild edible plant guru, and work on food fermentation. Dario also expressed some interest in hacking the borreliosis – he’s planning to provide an overview of making preparations for its treatment.

Lynne Bruning will continue to host daily Wandering Cafe in the mornings and e-textile workshops in the afternoons. She also wants to do explore various techniques of block printing on fabric.

Scott Kildall is a new media artist who works with datasets related to natural sciences and how they interact with human civilization, transforming these into sculptures and interactive installations. Scott’s involvement at PIF will be extension of his PIFresidency (Artist-in-Residence programme as part of Feral Labs Network) projects called Unnatural Language. He will use the Soča surroundings to make a dynamically-synthesized soundscape by setting up electronic sound sculptures across the meadows and trees and make them communicative with each other.

Last but not least – all the electronics and DIY synth enthusiasts can join a project Solder & Synonyms by John Richards aka Dirty Electronics which is combining circuit building, writing text and critical thinking.

And there is much more to come! DITOxicate yourself and APPLY NOW!

PS: Those who already applied – expect your answer on Tuesday May 21th.