Description
Unprecedented submolecular laser class 4 electro session, recorded in Physics Dept, Freie Universität Berlin, in 2005.
The modern photon concept was originated by the work of Albert Einstein at the beginning of XX century, when he elaborated the relativity theory, in 1905.
To celebrate the centenary (2005) of that singular event, the AEM – “Casa dell’energia” of Milan – organized the presentation of a dedicated installation and a live performance by the artistic collective Alterazioni Video.
To develop this photonic work, they went to the physics laboratory of the Freie Universität in Berlin. Together with Giovanni De Donà, then researcher Markus Gühr (now director at Potsdam University after his experience at Stanford) carried out his research using a class 4 laser.
There are various types of lasers and class 4 is one of the most powerful. Certainly not a free sale item. The class 4 is able not only to pierce the retina, but also to break the bond that holds the oxygen molecules together, thus generating flashes of light and powerful micro-couplings with interesting rhythmic flaps.
The session involved a certain risk, the atmosphere was naturally electrified, and under the supervision of Markus it was possible to trigger the laser through a drum machine in order to control these bursts and use them as rhythmic units.
Improvising a unique session of electro to all effects properly sub molecular, minimal electronic sounds interacted with the rhythms of the matter stimulated by the laser while producing light phenomena.
The Waterlaser track in particular was created by concentrating the laser focus on a water surface, and documents the background sound given by the splitting of the molecules of the liquid.
This experimentation on the border of art and science goes beyond the reductionism given by the programmed structures of the explosions, and highlights the obscure aspect of indeterminacy revealed by uncontrollable explosions, out of the rhythmic grid and out of every possible control. This took place because of a physical principle that we could touch with our hands, which brought science closer to the aesthetics of magical realism, as we could experience with our eyes and ears:
GDD- Markus, what’s going on? There are explosions that I didn’t program, that create these syncopated rhythms, as if someone was improvising on the sequence… And it’s not me…-
MG- It’s … (sneering) a matter of “sympathy”, “vibratory sympathy”. Sometimes, some molecules follows the ones that blows, with no particular apparent reason…-
This true Berliner experimental session was recorded with room microphones, and the balance was all in all positive: no one injured, a professional digital camera burned for daring to linger too long in framing the focus of the explosion of molecules. and a recording that is now presented in this record 15 years later.
The B side features Chris Mitchell with Bass influenced kinematic interpretation using parts from the session.
The recording of the next Milanese public session was lost in the black hole of the RAI archives.
Koo Editions – 2020
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