 |
Article for the online magazine “Kikked” July 2009 VJ FEST ISTANBUL “Visual Art Games” As VJs, we would like to be part of the venues and do good Vjing for the people and for the music worldwide. We want to share our knowledge with each other and with the interested people. We would like to help creative people who wants to become VJs. For these purposes, VJs got together in VJ Fest Istanbul between 4-8th June 2009. There were seventeen VJs and four multimedia artists from eight different countries. From Austria 4YOUREYE, PIXKOMPRESSOR, DECOLLAGE.TV, BLJAK!, FEROZ; from Germany SHADO VISUALS, MO (Japan) and from Andorra VJ GRANDA joined. 7 Dutch artists were LOTTEZ, PIXELADY, AINEKO, POLY PASTIS and THE VIDEO WORD MADE FLESH. There were one Belgian-ORCHIDE BITE, one French-SCOUAP and two Turkish VJs: TURBOSLOW and VJUNK. Ten Turkish techno DJs, three DJs from Spain, Holland, Belgium and one music band from Brazil, NATIVIX performed in the festival. For four days, there were held wokshops and dance parties at one of the known music lounges of Istanbul, Ghetto. VJs performed on the stage with musicians and DJs. |
 |
In the workshops, artists talked about their works and their Vjing techniques in general and in detail. Four VJ software workshops were held on Resolume Avenue, Arkaos VJ, Modul8 and Quartz Composer. We discussed about Vjing as a profession, including topics like finding sponsors and making contracts for the VJs. Marina Turco, a Ph.D student of Media Studies at Utrecht University gave a talk about her thesis titled “Dancing Images: VJ Performances and Club Culture”. She explained her attempt to draw the borders of this new media art with theater, film and video theory. |
 |
About 400 people joined in the parties. On the fifth day, there were two audio visual performances at the French Culture Institute Theater. One was a live cinema; transferring sound signals to video signals, video into audio by analog tools. The other one was a combination of video, music and text, inspired of Albert Camus’s book Stranger. VJ SCOUAP (France) made a video art show with his map painting technique. His performance with DJ Code314 (Belgium) was probably one of the most interesting shows for the audience. VJ Fest started when I first heard about VJ Camp at Greece and got very excited about the idea that VJs are getting together, making workshops and performances. Eva (4YourEye- Austria) helped me with the basic idea. She also told me that the consulates may support these kind of organizations. Then I asked Austrian Culture Office and started to search for contacts of embassies. I found out French Culture Institute. I invited VJs KISSDUB, ELECTROMOON, ILLUMINATOR, LOTTEZ, ZANNE, ALERTA, ORCHIDE BITE with the support of the French, Polish, Dutch, Belgium and Finland Consulates last year. And other VJs SHADO VISUALS (Germany), BLJAK! (Austria), WOJLAMIR (Polland), VISUAL AB&CO (Italy), SCOUAP (France), MONKEY PRESSO (Hungary) paid their expenses themselves and 15 VJs stayed at our friends’ houses. On 12-15th June 2008, 19 VJs from 9 countries came together and 15 of them made workshops. From Bilkent University, a communication design professor, Andreas Treske gave a talk about interactive video. Both the first festival in 2008 and the second festival this year were held by completely volunteer work of VJs, DJs and friends. |
|
I think VJ Fest Istanbul is amazing because we did it without money, without any commercial support for two years. It could be organized by anyone, and I am someone. It is amazing, because even when people from their computers don’t know each other, could come to Istanbul and contribute to the festival for fun and experience. Today 40 VJs and more than 20 musicians are connected. This will continue and get wider in different dimensions worldwide, with new friends worldwide. The festival is two years old now and eventually getting bigger. I think Vj Fest istanbul is important for VJs because they come together, meet each other and work together. They can talk to each other about art, technology and society. It is important because when lots of artists come together, they interact with each other and the interaction creates a vibe in which nobody knows what good things will happen. The time I spend with VJs and DJs as well as with other contributers last year and this year is like I find my friends from childhood. All nice and kind people, whatever we do together makes everybody happy! |
|
 |
“VJ Fest Istanbul was a wonderful gathering of a bunch of very nice and very creative people with more then one vision — all taking place in one of the most fascinating cities on planet. Beside great performances accompanying cool electronic beats it also featured interesting workshops and most importantly inspiring and motivating discussions about the art of VJing, but also about the daily work and the business side in a VJ's life.” Rolland Lindner (VJ Decollage.tv –Austria)
“I love istanbul! Nice to meet you everyone ! Vjing is good ! Art is good ! You are good ! You are vj ! Vjing is not a compétition ... Working together is vjing” Stephane Couapel (VJ Scouap –France)
“I'm really inspired by the love and passion you have for VJing and hope to be back in Istanbul next year.” Kristel Doest (VJ Aineko –Holland) Burcu GUNDUZ KARAKADILAR Article for the online magazine “Kikked” July 2009 |