GHOST DRUMMER (2010/2011)

 

Ghost Drummer is a multidisciplinary project that explores graphic qualities in process of playing on a drum kit. Besides being a musician, drummer when playing is unconsciously engaged in an elaborate choreography. The drum sticks are the extensions of drummer's hands like a brush is an extension of the painter's hand. Motion-captured movements become a visual map over a time revealing fragile rhythm structures and invisible notations behind energetic instrumental solo. 'Portrait of a Ghost Drummer' expands the understanding of drummers activity from purely auditory experience to spontaneous visual performance. From technical point of view motion trajectory was captured on Vicon MX system and raw CSV files were translated into visual language in 3d environment Cinema4D. My self-developed technique is inspired by areas such as drumming notation, action painting, choreography, japanesse calligraphy and 3d digital drawing. Most important for me is that it gives me true feeling that I am my drawing.

"When I am in my painting, I'm not aware of what I'm doing. It is only after a sort of 'get acquainted' period that I see what I have been about. I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well."

-- Jackson Pollock, My Painting, 1956 (source: wikipedia)

I worked on this animation during my recent artistic residency at Culture Lab in Newcastle. Thanks to Atau Tanaka, Pussykrew, David Green & Culture Lab team.