MTF Performance Lab (Berlin): Viktoria Modesta

Tracy was invited to participate in the MTF (Music Tech Fest) Performance Lab at MTF Berlin in May 2016. She collaborated with a team of interdisciplinary artists consisting of experts in the field of brain interface technology, IRCAM gesture sensors, MIT media Lab, fashion and wearable design, performance, new software written for generative and responsive projection mapping, interactive LED light systems and sensor implants. The team integrated all this technology within three days to create a high tech performance in collaboration with Viktoria Modesta. Viktoria is a bionic artist and multimedia performance artist.

Tracy designed the audio interaction, provided a short remix of the artist’s track, intergrated a stunning remix produced by Arielle Esther, pulled together a range of data sources, categorized the data, created systems in max for live to then map the data to volume parameters and sample clips within Ableton Live.

Viktoria had three sensors, The first was attached to her head by Mu Arts (Horácio Tomé Marques and Francisco Marques-Teixeira) and read her brainwave activity. Two data sets were collected based on if Viktoria was in a meditative state or state of concentration, Mu Arts then sent the data to Tracy via OSC. Two Ri-OT sensors using GIRD M4L patches developed as part of the Music Bricks prize (MusicBricks is an Innovation Action funded by the European Commission (H2020-ICT-2014-1 Project ID 644871). These sensors were also placed on Viktoria. Firstly a sensor was placed on her prosthetic leg. Her leg now became an instrument that allowed her to trigger samples every time she stamped her foot. Also she could change the colour of the LED lights by moving her leg. This was set up by Jonathan Rutherford. The second sensor was placed on here wrist allowing her to trigger sounds by banging her fist in the air.