CORE © Kurt Hentschläger
CORE is scalable, so, depending on the size of a given venue, can consist of just a few or many aquarium / projections. There are bigger and smaller groups in bigger and smaller tanks, allowing for more or less constrained patterns of movement.
Individual groups in their individual aquariums interact foremost amongst themselves but also correspond with neighboring tanks. Each group features their own unique motion patterns and behavior, which they cycle through in infinite variation. All the groups / tanks together form a bigger "community", synchronizing their actions for occasional intervals.
CORE is the next generation of Kurt Hentschläger?s generative 3D and audio work. By its computer generated virtual "physics" the figures simulate the real and are therefore never fully predictable. CORE continues the research into human fantasies of omnipotence and of life enhancing processes. The work is intentionally ambiguous. The impossible combinations of movements of clustered bodies are beautiful, resembling paintings or beams of light, they crash into each other and against the walls of the tanks like waves.
The sound of CORE is generated by all the events driving the work – body motion and -behavior as well as changes in light and color. Each body in each aquarium is 3 one sound instance / instrument, together each group forms an ensemble, with all groups / ensembles together finally becoming an orchestra.
Repetitive body motions are driving repetitive, rhythmical sound structures - minimal drone music. Free floating irregular body motions result in more improvised musical structures. A sub bass "floor" frames the body sounds. Loudness is fluctuating, mostly at an ambient level. Sound dynamic is high, ranging from almost still to orchestral intensity.
CORE goes through different stages, moving between individual and collective moments, shifting action and attention between individual tanks and subsequently also changing its overall sound character and -massing throughout the space.
Technically CORE is possible through real-time computer generating of synchronized 3D Imagery and Sound. The custom designed software package driving CORE is the result of a 3-year development effort by Kurt Hentschlager, started in 2008.
Each group of characters in CORE is processed in a discrete PC, so the installation runs off as many PC?s as groups of figures present. In addition a central control, all group PC?s synchronizing, computer is needed. Each individual group uses a discrete video projector(s) and sound system. Once the entire system is started it can run for an indefinite period of time with little maintenance required.
CORE by Kurt Hentschläger
Commissioner: The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Limited
Curator: Richard Castelli
Producer: Humanew LLC
Ogre / Bullet and Max-Msp Programming: Rob Ramirez
Ableton-Live Sound Engine and Max-For-Live Processes: Ian Brill
3D Character Design and Assistance Chicago: Chris Day, Rhys Bevan
Production Chicago and Architectural Planning: Jason Labovitz
Production Assistance Chicago: Lantian Xie
Setup Ironbridge & Technical Consulting: Alexander Boehmler
Supported by Arts Council England
Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Additional production support and residency provided by EMPAC/ Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute and the Jaffe Fund for Experimental Media and Performing Arts
Thanks to:
Ableton AG for generous licensing support of "Live Suite"
Steve Miller, Anna Brennand, Mark Ashby, Paul Gossage, Rebecca Lawrence and the
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Maintenance Team and everybody else at The Ironbridge
Gorge Museums
Helene Stril, Florence Berthaud, Claire Dugot, Chara Skiadelli and everybody at Epidemic
