program note:
This audiovisual work is based on Imai’s previous piece “Figure in Movement IV” for nijugo-gen-so (25-string koto). The point of departure of these works is to consider the performing motion of instrumentalists as dance, choreographed by musical scores and the instrument itself.
Seeking relations between audio and visuals is one of the most important matters in intermedia art. At this point, it could be possible to say that the performing motion on instruments is literally one and the same as the sound/music produced by it.
By means of an ultra-large aperture lens with 35mm sensor DSLR camera, the movement of koto performance was shot in very thin depth of field. This takes up the performing motion free from surrounding heterogeneous elements, and also gives the image three-dimensional impression with the gradation from focus to defocus.
The recorded audio and video were then processed via Max/MSP/Jitter to be transformed on timbre, time and motion axis. Particularly, the time-stretched performing motion also shows by some means a hidden grotesque figure in musical performance.
This piece was realized at the Sonology Department of Kunitachi College of Music, and supported by the Kunitachi College of Music Special Research Grant. The koto was performed by Maya Kimura.