mechalgorithmics
Mechalgorithms
28 July – 3 August 2013
For the first time in the framework of the Fusion Festival, an amazing art festival that took place in the city of Larz, Germany from the 28th of July till the 3rd of August 2013, Okhaos Creations (www.okhaos.com) has joined efforts with the Collectif Infini, a collective of artists coming from different cultural backgrounds (several dancers and musicians from France, Italy, Russia, and Australia, mechanical workers from America, etc.). Together, the group has constructed the Fusion Ball: a large metallic contraption (similar to a hamster-wheel) that rolls on the ground, activated by human-power. The Fusion Ball is an interactive installation designed to maximize interaction between the machine and the public. It is composed of two giant wheels that, when activated, turn the sculpture into a moving stage, a platform for artists perform different kind of shows: concerts, dance and theatrical performances, or other interactive shows such as circus and fire shows. But the Fusion Ball also has the ability to engage directly with its own public, by inviting the public to participate actively to the show. From mere observer, anyone can at any moment intervene and become an actual part of the show, by either riding the Ball or creatively playing with it. The Fusion Ball becomes therefore a stage for improvised creativity, a moving Carnival of chaos, a fusion of individual dreams and collective creativity.
Below is a video preview of the moving ball:
THE CONCEPT
The whole story
At the beginning we had no idea what we were doing and where we were going, but we knew we had to do it in order to get somewhere. So we started drafting this proposal for the Fusion Festival, proposing an installation that would be able to gather together the skills of everyone from our collective. A crazy hamsterball that would be driven by human power and that would constitute a stage for people to play pirates, to dance, singe or perform some crazy theatrical piece. We worked out all the details, designed the ball on Google Sketchup, and described everything we were planning to do and everyone we were planning to do it with. After 4 days of intensive labor and debates on what should be done and what not, we were done with the proposal and we sent it out.. hoping for the best.
The serendipity
Franco is a clown, a friend of our dear friend Naayma, who once came to our house and really enjoyed the art we make. He told us that he was in touch with the organisers of the Fusion Festival and that he could help up get the proposal accepted by the hispanic group. We trusted him with all our heart, and we started drafting the best proposal we could. After a few days, Franco told us that, in fact, he had no real contact with the hispanic crew for a long time now, and he had no idea how to help us anymore. We decided not to give up, and tried all possible ways to identify someone from the Fusion Festival who we could send the proposal too. Eventually, Ksenia, our dear Russian friend from the collective, contacted a friend of hers from the Hedonist society in Germany, who happened to be in touch with the Bus manager of the Fusion Festival and who really liked our project, and forwarded it immediately to Eule, the Art director of the Fusion Festival, who, it turns out, also liked our project, and decided to take us on ! So the moral is: never believe the words of a clown, unless you are willing to become a clown yourself. We did it though, and we are glad to have done so. Our dreams actually managed to make our dreams come true. Thank you Naayma for being what you are, thank you Franco for being a crazy utopist, and thank you Ksenia for being the same.