Dancers become canvases for animated geometries, spawning abstract flurries of shapes and particles above them, in the computer vision-driven choreography in Nosaj Thing’s new video “Eclipse/Blue.” The dance seems perfectly calibrated to Nosaj Thing’s dreamy, polished production and the delicate vocals of Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead).
This is not Kinect – it just isn’t fast enough. Daito Manabe uses the Point Grey cameras, which operate at higher speeds.
To me, oddly, some of the most beautiful moments come toward the end as the dancers become darkened silhouettes. To their credit, Daito Manabe and creators directly acknowledge the work that inspired this: Klaus Obermaier’s “Apparition,” built with the Ars Electronica Futurelab. In some ways, that work is more aesthetically focused, though the musical content sends the work in a different direction. Here, the actual visual content is more developed and fanciful, as in Manabe’s rendition takes on its own character.
But – you can compare for yourself. Of course, part of what yields mature work is doing just this, creating a trope on a previous work. Look at the inspiration:
The project is supported by the Intel-funded, VICE-produced platform The Creators Project. More specs on the video:
The official music video for Nosaj Thing’s “Eclipse/Blue,” by Daito Manabe, takcom, Satoru Higa, and MIKIKO with support from The Creators Project.
“Eclipse/Blue,” featuring vocals by Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino, is the first single off Nosaj Thing’s upcoming album Home (out 01/22/13).
The Creators Project accordingly has interviews with the artists and more details:
Witness Daito Manabe’s Surreal Dance Experience For Nosaj Thing’s “Eclipse/Blue” [Exclusive Video Premiere]
Daito Manabe is an artist, designer, DJ, VJ, and generally one of our favorite people.
http://www.daito.ws/en/