Oz Asia Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. 30 Sep 2015
Artists often take their inspiration from nature, but it is usually from what is seen or heard and rarely from what is un-sensed. Superposition is an artist’s attempt to make tangible what is essentially the ultimate in intangibility – the quantum world.
Superposition is a fusion of synthesized sound and computer generated imagery that assaults your senses. It is not an enjoyable experience, and nor is it un-enjoyable. It is provoking and arresting – it demands and commands your attention and if you can’t give it you have but one option, and that is to leave the ‘event’. That is exactly what some did, but only a few.
At its heart is science and mathematics, and it’s confusing. If you know nothing of quantum physics or informatics your enjoyment would be diminished, and seeing it several times would, I suspect, not fill in the gaps. The program notes aren’t of too much use either. I’m fortunate (or not) to have some training in mathematical physics and I could appreciate what creator Ryoji Ikeda was trying to say, but it’s dangerous to overstate your case. Ikeda’s Artist Statement in the programme notes concludes by saying that “Superposition is … foolhardily and quixotically aiming to explore the new kind of information through art.” Maybe foolhardily, because the quantum world defies common sense.
Suffice to say, Ikeda drew inspiration for his ‘event’ from the ambiguity and confusion that plagues a mere mortal’s attempt to explain and describe the quantum world.
The event comprised a perplexing and stunning array of graphic images projected onto multiple screens, sometimes with expositions of the underpinning data, and always accompanied by seemingly chaotic signal generated sounds. It was loud. Your body felt the ‘music’ – your sinuses vibrated. At times two actors manipulated electronic and mechanical equipment on stage and we saw graphical and mathematical representations of what they were doing. The pace was relentless, and each spectacular electronic display was outdone by the next.
Can our lives be expressed in mathematics? Is reality deterministic? Who knows? Philosophy aside, the audience loved it.
Kym Clayton
When: 29 to 30 Sep
Where: Dunstan Playhouse
Bookings: Closed
