Turning Ideas into Reality

After much consideration and consulting our lecturer, Mr Dirk Stromberg, I have decided that I would stick to something relating my culture, Silat Pengantin. It is catergorize as part of “Seni Silat” In Malaysia and Singapore, seni silat refers to “the art of silat,” where seni is both indicative of an indigenous aesthetics, and implicitly critical of a western reduction of art to material culture. Silat here refers to the name of the martial art, whereas seni refers to the artistic, beautiful, and skillful way the movements are performed.

Silat pengantin is a performance that involves one or more participants, frequently males, to perform a series of slow and fast movements using the “bunga-bunga” or rather an artistic moves, in front of the newlyweds. After a stylized bow (sembah) the dance begins with the dancer slowly weaving his way to the groom/couple whereupon he will salaam (shake hands with) the groom. The dancer’s movements must be responsive to the music. Arms, wrists and hands carve intricate mysterious circling patterns through the air, gestures of adjuration or exorcism as if weaving charms.

As a form of interaction, participants may enter the area of play, once a particular performer is done with the sequence from sembah till salaam. Best performers implement skills honed during long years of practise, achieving a jazz-like virtuosity where they improvise new techniques, patterned upon the movements of animals and mythological creatures. Audience whom stood and watch can find it hilarious, whereas others would find it shocking if quick punches are executed nearby the newlyweds. 

In my assignment 1, I would like to integrate only the upper body movement, in particular, the punches and the “bunga-bunga”. In a form of “area of play”, where the performance are usually done in square where visitors will crowd upon, I will be selecting regions based on screen of the computer. Light will be indicated to show if it’s a fast movement, determined by a punch, or the “bunga-bunga”, determined by a slow movement. As the same time music, by the “kompang’’ or known as drums, will be played together with the performance, to aid the flow of the movement as mentioned above, the dancer’s movement must be responsive to the music. 

So as a start, I have divided the screen into 4 regions. My intention was to use Wii accelerometer to act as the hands movement, particularly to identify the assault area. “Bunga-Bunga” is the basis of silat movement, and is being crafted out before major assaults. Basically, the 4 regions is to identify where the contact or rather punches and/or “bunga’’ will be made. I used mousestate as a contingency since I am not able to integrate the Wii to MAX/MSP. After identifying the horizontal range and vertical range, I work towards the integrating of both ranges; and after which switched on the light if the mouse cursor seats and satisfy in both horizontal and vertical ranges.

 Items needed to create the Performance

Mousestate with Horizontal and Vertical Ranges as Limits

Wise Thoughts from the Wise

This week class resumed, after a long weekend of Chinese New Year, with a performance by our very own lecturer, Mr Dirk Johan Stromberg. He showcased the piece using his Mac and only his voice. This particular simple piece was prepared and performed by Alvin Lucier back in 1969. The piece was titled “I am seating in the room”. Using his creative thoughts, Lucier created this simple piece by using his voice and his surrounding, Knowingly, he stutters during speeches, he created this piece to remove the irregularities he has on his “speech” just by using his vocal acoustic and the echo of the room where the recording was made multiple times. Different room size produces different resonance frequency which can be articulated by the echo. I felt that it was a reasonably innovative piece as to one connects his disability of speaking without stutter and the use of technology by just simply recording his 1^st speech and after which, keep playing a record as more layers of recording is done through the speakers. 

Alvin Lucier and his excellent piece - I am sitting in a room 

An interesting video, this time with a modern response to Lucier's

A week back, I have been brain-storming of what I want to achieve for my assignment 1. I thought of understanding the artistic movement of Silat Pengantin which is the performance done for the newlyweds. However I realize that it would be quite complicated if were to integrate it to technology, although if it seems possible using the versatility of MAX/MSP. The rhythm produced by the kompang during the performance seems much more an ideal solution but I am still thinking of how is it possible to integrate to MAX/MSP. At the same time, I thought of some other creative explorations that I wish to pursue.

Here are some videos I have seen and rate it interesting:

Electric guitar with many effects

 

Invisible Violin

LED RGB Music Visualizer

We spent the rest of the class to explore and explain what we wish to do for our assignment 1 to Mr Stromberg. It has to be able to interact with the audience. He aid our wild ideas to be much more innovative and artistic. Obviously, he would ask questions that we are not able to solve, but with patience we are forced to think out of the box to think of something which is simple, yet artistic.

I’ve got till this Wednesday to think of what I want to do. It seems to me that I have forecast several ideas; but just that I have problem to put them into words and answering the question “why?” Hopefully it goes better along the way. Believe!