ALT_SPACE
ALT_SPACE (2021-2022) was an interactive online performance series designed to bridge the gap between performers and audiences in a virtual setting and promote effective engagement. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it emerged as Krea’s solution to support artistic production and create online environments that, albeit different, were as interactive, immersive and inclusive as offline ones.
As co-curator, project manager, and fundraiser of ALT_SPACE, I assumed a multifaceted role crucial to its success. Collaborating closely with the team, I shaped the artistic direction and execution of the project, secured the necessary funding for the project’s realisation by tapping into diverse financing avenues, coordinated promotion efforts, and ensured seamless communication between the artistic and production teams.
Leveraging the possibilities uniquely offered by the online sphere, ALT_SPACE served as an exciting playground in which artists could explore new pathways to tackle the issue of audience engagement and captivate the audience's full attention while watching performances at home. In a time when individuals were forced into the seclusion of their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ALT_SPACE expanded the traditional performance format, experimenting with new ways of togetherness and offering an innovative environment for the public to experience art.
To enable interaction, ALT_SPACE featured Touchy - Audience Interaction Tool, a web application with an intuitive interface accessible on any device, developed by Krea in collaboration with the software developer Anı Lermi. Conceived as a ‘set and forget’ touch interface, Touchy adds another dimension to the users’ experiences of the artistic content featured on the platform. The real-time data generated by the audience was compiled and streamed to the artists in a manner that allowed them to track the low-latency interaction of the audience on an individual level. Prior to the performance, artists created systems that controlled how data would be interpreted and interacted with specific parameters in the performance, allowing the public to control sound parameters, lighting, and the performers' scores.
On December 2, 2021, Can Memisogullari’s A/V performance created a virtual space in which audience members were represented visually as particle systems, using Unreal Engine - a software mainly utilised to create 3D games. On January 18, 2022, 1LL0’s three-part concert put the public in the spotlight as it generated all audio-visual aspects of the performance through the audience's interaction with Touchy. The duo invited audience members to become part of a virtual ensemble - Touchy Chother Ensemble - to perform their guided improvisation. On March 1, 2022, ALT_SPACE feat. The Interstring Project marked the return of Krea to live events. The hybrid event joined audiences in the physical space and online to experiment with different formats of togetherness. The Interstring Project performed the artistic program ELECTRIC DREAMS, an hour-long concert comprising eight pieces authored by the ensemble. The last instalment of the ALT_SPACE series took place on July 19, 2022, as a hybrid event at Musicon Den Haag. Müsfik Can Müftüoglu presented CallLab, a three-part performance in which the public guided his solo set in various ways.
Colophon
Project Manager
Sofia Vieira
Technical Producer
Kaan Yazici
Fundraiser
Sofia Vieira
Video Producer
Leo Scarin
Graphic Designer
Ringaile Demsyte
Producer
Krea
ALT_SPACE was supported by Gemeente Den Haag and Musicon Den Haag.