Participating Artist

Isaac’s background is in visual art and communication, he has worked across film, theatre and sculpture creating set designs, customs and kinetic sculptures. Isaac’s interest in interdisciplinary practice and kinetic sculpture began in the late 1990s, when he participated in the Musica viva festival in Lisbon, Portugal. Building on this he worked as an assistant designer and technician for the theater group ‘O OLHO’ for their Expo98 show in Lisbon. He has also worked as a production assistant on various dance films including, ‘To A Woman’s Heart’, by choreographer Karin Post and director Bob Bentley and ‘One ride Pony’, by Alex Vermeulen.

In 2002 Isaac was commissioned by theater Group ZT HOLLADIA to create the set design, costume and visual concept for the music theatre piece ‘SPINOZA’, directed by Paul Koek in partnership with De Singel, International Art Center, Antwerp. Later works such as Falling Angels(2002) and ‘Whitening’ (2006) extended Isaac’s interest in creating dramatic, visual and interactive or kinetic sculptures. For example, in his work “Falling Angels” a collaboration with visual artist Osnat Weiss, as hanging cubes of ice melt, their sounds are picked up by motion detectors and microphones and amplified.

Currently Isaac is on a six month residency at Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart. Prior to this he held a study grant (1998-1999) at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam. Isaac’s work has been shown internationally across Europe, South Africa and the US.

Isaac N.I.P. interests

What I would like to develop during the workshop series is a controller focusing on contemplation. A general concern in the work is haw to translate movement, sound and color so that it can be experienced intuitively with some sense of collective understanding added to it. The idea is to create an interface in which two or more performers can alter the physical space or objects in that same performing space by means of subtly moving in the space.With this I am interested in controlling or manipulating a 3D, physical space or objects, as part of one single living organism in whish performers by moving can create fragmentize narratives of their own.In attending NIP, I am interested in finding out more about Zachary Lieberman’s ‘playful and enigmatic’ ideas and methods of exploring the nature of communication and the boundary between the visible and the invisible. Michel Waisvisz virtuosism as a performer and instrument maker, particularly his experience in using sensors and touch as a means for creating music and electronic sounds. Christina Kubisch redefinition of relationships between material and form. Lotta’s work on how live-electronic sounds trigged by the movement of dancers can deepen and allow for new ways of interaction between dance and other art forms. Overall I have found relevant aspects from each lead artists work that I believe will add and challenge my artistic practice.

Technologies that Isaac has used

Hardware: Junxion box from Steim, Mini ssc for servo control, and basic stamp controller.
Software: Lisa, Junxion, visual servo automation, and basic stamp.