Research into fluid ways of being. What does it mean to ‘queer’ a space? Stills of multiple render techniques and projection mapping into site specific places of everyday life, transformed into speculative water environments.
Video shot at the Natatorium of Cranbrook, with drone and waterproof equipment. Projection mapping & live opera performance in collaboration with Brian Kovach at the Greek Theatre, CAA, 2021.
Written, directed, performed, edited and scored by Merel Noorlander, live opera and performance by Brian Kovach at the Greek Theatre. The score includes original music by Georges Bizet/Sebastian Iradier – Habanera (Instrumental) Performed by Nova Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Rome Directed by Stefano Sovrani.
Projection mapping & vocal performance at the Greek Theatre, CAA, 2021.
What are the different vernacular, gestures, smells, sounds and colors that we use to communicate with each other? Can these practices be traced back to our experiences of various pandemics today? How does this define, evolve, intersect and influence our communication in the digital and public space on a personal and cultural level?
Part of this research project is connected to Paul B. Preciado’s questions around gender non-confirming; ‘When can a body be said to exist? Can a body be someone’s property? What if a body is made of signs, image and sound? Can those signs, those images, those sounds be mine even if my body isn’t? And the theory of Legacy Russel about reprogramming systems around gender and sexuality in the virtual places between living and data bodies.
The aim is to transform research material (image, sound, smell, color, text) into physical and digital interactive experiences. With multiple render techniques, new music compositions, and projection mapping into site specific places of everyday life. And in the future to alternative digital platforms. All freely accessible to the public, physical and online, who will amplify the voices of all participating individuals.
As Jack Halberstam argues; the swimming pool is an environment within the body becomes weightless and hovers on the surface of a submerged world; it’s a site where the body becomes buoyant, transformed by a new element, and yet must struggle, overcome by the new and potentially hostile environment. What lies beneath the sparkling surface of chlorine- enhanced blue, that might take and invites us to a threshold to contemplate jumping into air bubbles and fluid spaces? The mission is to share and exchange ideas on fluid public spaces, transposed into a visual language to be shared. Get glitched and become your avatar!
Fluid Spaces contains video, projection mapping, performance, life opera, soundscape, various dimensions.
Written, directed, performed, edited and scored by Merel Noorlander.
In collaboration with, many thanks to:
Brian Kovach – vocals & performance Greek Theatre
Nelly Kate – underwater camera Natatorium
Zhuo Chen – drone footage Natatorium
Motomichi Nakamura – advice projection mapping
Carla Diana – production/artistic advice
Rob Crossno – video/photo capture Greek Theatre
Emily Bommarito – sound capture & build up
Ashley Karnowski – build up Greek Theatre
Kelly Kroener – projection mapping assistants Greek Theatre
Jenna VanFletteren – Color value Curtain Greek Theatre
Vincent de Kort – conductor ‘Habanera’, Evian (EU)
Nicholas – dress and make-up assistant Brian Kovach
En Henry – Natatorium team & advice Greek Theatre
Elizabeth Shoby – edit support
Queerbrook – theory & crit
Noëlle Choy – errand run & advice Greek Theatre
Vanessa Lucero Macei, John Malewicz, Steve Landry – arrangements CAA
Kevin Adkisson, Leslie Mio – research sculpture Persephone / Bacchante CAA
The score includes original music by Georges Bizet/Sebastian Iradier – Habanera (Instrumental) Performed by Nova Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Rome Directed by Stefano Sovrani.
Video shot at the Natatorium of Cranbrook, with drone and waterproof equipment. Projection mapping & vocal performance at the Greek Theatre, CAA, 2021.