I recently learned about the work of Reuben Margolin at PopTech 2011, where he presented a joint project with choreographer Gideon Obarzanek. Reuben is known for his creation of beautiful large-scale kinetic sculptures that use pulleys and motors to create the complex movements and structures we see in nature.
His work is based on an inspiration in 1999 when he became obsessed with the movement of a green caterpillar. At that time, he set out to make wave-like sculptures inspired by its movements.
Obarzanek presented work from Chunky Move at a previous PopTech, his Australian-based modern dance company that’s known for immersing dancers in a world of motion tracking and projection technology.
The two connected at the time and discussed the idea of collaborating together, the result of which was a project called Connected, which was first performed at Australia’s Malthouse Theater in March 2011 and then in May 2011 at the Sydney Theater. Below is a shot of a rehearsal.
Additional images of Obarzanek and Margolin’s performance can be seen on Chunky Moves’ website.
They had a performance October 20-22, in Lincoln Hall in Portland, Oregon, at the Duke Performances Reynolds Theater in Durham, North Carolina on October 28, the Joyce Theater in New York on November 2-6, at the Loeb Playhouse in West Lafayette, Indiana on November 10, at the Hatfield Hall in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 12, and at the Zellerbach Theater in Philadelphia November 17-19.
In the sell-out, international sensations of GLOW and Mortal Engine, Chunky Move transcended the limits of earthly form by immersing dancers in an illusory world of motion tracking and projection technology. Through the artistic creations of Reuben Margolin, Gideon Obarzanek animates both the body and the machine through physical connection between the dancers and Margolin’s purpose-built, kinetic sculpture.
Reuben’s live sculptural works – constructed from wood, re-cycled plastic, paper and steel – transcend their concrete forms once set into motion, appearing as natural waveforms in a weightless kinetic flow. Suspended by hundreds of fine strings receiving information from multiple camshafts and wheels, his sculptures reveal in articulate detailthe impulses of what they are coupled to. In Connected, it is people – athletic and agile dancers’ bodies twisting and hurtling through space, as well as people in recognisable situations.
Beginning with simple movements and hundreds of tiny pieces, the dancers build their performance while they construct the sculpture in real time. During the performance, these basic elements and simple physical connections quickly evolve into complex structures and relationships.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
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