[Nettime-bold] The Performer and the Mediated Image, Workshop in Performance & MediaArt

[Marieke Istha <istha@montevideo.nl>]

The Performer and the Mediated Image
Workshop in Performance & Media Art

The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University in collaboration with the
Netherlands Media Art Institute, Montevideo/Time Based Arts

30 July - 4 August 2001, Amsterdam

Introduction
In recent years, increasing attention has been given to cross-over art
forms where the blurring of boundaries between theatre, music, dance,
painting, film etc have allowed new hybrids to emerge in the performing
arts. In one aspect this is not strictly 'new'; the Italian Futurists
were busy making sound machines in performance at the beginning of the
20th century, and artists such as the American Laurie Anderson have long
been experimenting with live-action, video, music and sound interactive
instruments in live performance; hence the term 'multimedia'. But
contemporary arts practice is constantly expanding the use of technology
and mediated image-making in performance, often resulting in a
fascinating melting pot of interfaces, virtualities, physical techniques
and applications, not to mention time/space or theory/practice
explorations.

Visual artists have also long been playing with form and content, and
with methods of presentation. At one end of the spectrum artists such as
Nam June Paik and Bruce Nauman have been making video and installation
art since the 1960s. Towards the end of the last century a new
generation came of age; artists working with the internet, email,
virtual reality, robotics, digital media. This we have come to refer to
as 'Media Art'.

Contemporary theatre and performance-makers are still grappling with the
same original basic premise as their professional fore-fathers; a
fundamentally theatrical concept of live spectacle with audience as
witness. A story or stories will be told (but it may be non-linear);
there will be a beginning, middle, and end (but possibly not in that
order); the form will include a rise to a climax, and a resolve or
conclusion (and most likely more than once); but above all, a suspension
of disbelief is guaranteed. The form of the spectacle may be virtual, it
may be recorded on CD-rom, it may be relayed by live web-cam over the
internet; it may be an ensemble piece happening simultaneously across
the world with each member of the ensemble performing in a different
city, to a culturally different live audience; it may be a personal
virtual experience in the head of one single audience member at a time;
or it may simply require one character to be represented by a TV monitor
or video projection screen.

Course Description
This workshop aims to examine practically and theoretically the advances
and emerging challenges to classical representation, and to look at how
new technologies are radically altering the perception of performance
and visual arts for contemporary audiences;

- What constitutes a mediated image
- Which forms of mediation might be appropriate to a live setting
- What are the consequences of working with these images in direct
relation to the
  'unmediated' body of the performer (does theatre/performance lose its
character?)
- What happens to the relationship between the 'mediated performer' and
the audience
  (when it's live but not present, or recorded)
- How/what can we learn from past practice?
- How can artists practically work with and utilise new media?

Alongside practical sessions, in which creative ideas and projects will
be devised by the participants and developed over the period of the
course, the work will be contextualised by critical and theoretical
discussions of existing concepts and contemporary practice. These will
be in the form of seminars, debates and practical examples, given by
experts and artists in the specific discipline. Topics include; video
art as fine art practice; technology & performance; "electric
scenography"; interactive performance & time-based media; installation &
site-specific performance; CD-rom / web & internet arts projects;
interactive music and sound.

Participant Profile
Performing Arts practitioners, video artists, media artists &
postgraduate students. Artists from any discipline who wish to expand
and complement their own practice via hands-on experience in
collaborative work of this nature.

Programme
Co-ordinated by:
Rachel Feuchtwang, Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University
Annet Dekker, Netherlands Media Art Institute

Invited guests (to be confirmed) include:
Sher Doruff, de Waag, Maatschappij voor Oude- en Nieuwe Media
David Garcia, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht
Michel Waisvisz, STEIM
Matt Adams, Blast Theory

Language
English

Location
Felix Meritis, Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Netherlands Media Art Institute, Keizersgracht 264, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands

Schedule
10.00 - 17.30 including 1-hour lunch break and coffee/tea breaks.

Fee
NLG 1000 (EURO 453.78) including daily lunches & refreshments, and
admission to the cultural evening programme of The Amsterdam-Maastricht
Summer University.

Application
Due to the limited capacity, applicants will be selected according to
relevant professional experience and motivation. Applicants should
return their completed application form including curriculum vitae and
motivation letter, before 29 June 2001, by fax or post to:
The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University
PO Box 53066,1007 RB Amsterdam, The Netherlands / F +31 (0)20 624 9368

There are a limited number of scholarships available. Those who wish to
be considered must send in their application form, CV, letter of
motivation plus a letter of recommendation from a professional colleague
before 1 June 2001.
Please note all materials should be written in English.

Course Co-ordination
For general information and a Application Form please contact the
Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University; PO Box 53066, 1007 RB Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)20 620 0225 / F +31 (0)20 624 9368 / E office@amsu.edu /
www.amsu.edu

--

Netherlands Media Art Institute
Montevideo/Time Based Arts
Keizersgracht 264
NL 1016 EV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)20 6237101
F +31(0)20 6244423
E info@montevideo.nl
http://www.montevideo.nl

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