Interpreting Images as Audio Waves, Auditory Perception of Visual Data
In the dawn of the 21st century, live performances went a step further, integrating projections on large screens as pop and alternative music stars aligned their names with those of prominent visual artists. Audiovisual synergy initially manifested in the simple overlay of audio and video, but as time progressed, it became unavoidably intertwined with the performance's visual epiphanies. These epiphanies reverberate not only in artistic and aesthetic dynamics, but also in marketing strategies and multisensory storytelling modes. Tracing the origins of contemporary audiovisual performance, Emanuele Ponzio explores this hybridization in his book 'Image in Real Time,' published by Mimesis Editions.
Spanning 300 pages of artistic suggestions and technical inventions, the book delves deep into the complex relationship between painting and chromatic values, tracing its roots back to 1563. Yet, the primary objective of the book is to delineate an analysis of contemporary audiovisual performance, encompassing the period from the 1990s up to the present day. Ponzio has authored an engaging narrative, intricately interweaving technological development with creative intuition. The book is not only captivating in its exploration of real-time video mixing but also sheds light on the visionary preoccupations that transfixed certain authors from the late 17th century to the early 20th century.
Born in 2001, Ponzio has been active as a visual artist and VJ. Apart from his work as a visual artist, he has also created multimedia performances. With his book 'Image in Real Time,' Ponzio not only reveals critical insights into one of today's most misused avenues of expression, but he also sketches a significant historical account of audiovisual performance.
What kick-started the chronicle of artistic interactions, and why do they matter?
Exploring Cross-Mediality
It was the advent of digital technology in the early 2000s that unearthed the concept of cross-mediality, referring to the integration of various media such as video and audio. As a result, artistic practices such as VJing and audiovisual performance underwent a revolution. In truth, cross-mediality - understood as a multidisciplinary approach to art, a synthesis of different arts (as outlined by Richard Wagner in his "total work of art" or Kasimir Malevich's "monumental art") - was already in practice at the beginning of the 20th century. Composers like Alexander Scriabin experimented with "synesthetic" performances that harmoniously combined music, poetry, dance, and visual elements.
Navigating the Digital Epoch: Shifting from Analog to Digital
Technological advancements have always powered artistic evolution, and this is especially apparent in the case of videomusic. Transitioning from the analog to the digital era had a profound impact on contemporary artists, offering unprecedented opportunities and challenges. This shift provided a platform for writers and researchers like Emanuele Ponzio to explore the depths of cross-mediality in its various forms, ushering in a new era of audiovisual performance.
In the early 2000s, the integration of various media such as video and audio, a phenomenon known as cross-mediality, was popularized by the advent of digital technology. This shift in technology significantly transformed artistic practices like VJing and audiovisual performance, extending back to the early 20th century when composers like Alexander Scriabin experimented with synesthetic performances that combined music, poetry, dance, and visual elements.
