Connecting the Nerds

I’ve been thinking about compiling, making a proper timeline/history/anthology TD archive. Compile all the individual stories… connect the nerds :)

Dev_Harlan-Kamil_Nawratil-Alex_Czetwertynski-Brandon_Epperson-David_Bianciardi-VincenT_Houze-Gabriel_Pulecio

VOLVOXLABS 2011/12

I found the NYC "inception story" in the first article I wrote about Kamil which takes us back to 2012. As you reminded me last night David, I’d connected them with Alex C. There’s no mention of Brandon there but I’ve asked him what he recalls. I'll need to speak to Dev Harlan and Alex C to go back further... Def looks like the influence was coming from the west coast - OD’s work and then Amon Tobin was the spark. Crazy this “history” or this chapter of it is so short, goes back to 2010/11 at earliest. So much has happened in that time!

From the article https://derivative.ca/community-post/volvox-labs-dynamical-systems-and-perception-consequence/60771:

"STARTS HERE >>

"I'm a MFA Computer Art student at the School of Visual Arts NYC. We are looking for a TouchDesigner teacher for an Independent Study program for the fall 2012 semester. Can you recommend someone?" was our initial email introduction to Kamil Nawratil, art director at VolvoxLabs.

The request was intriguing and as luck would have it, Alex Czetwertynski (a Houdini and TouchDesigner artist specializing in content creation and technical design) was in the process of relocating to New York from LA and keen to teach TouchDesigner. Kamil and fellow student Rodrigo had been inspired by Amon Tobin's ISAM and were curious about its workings. In the caliber of ISAM's visual control they saw a future for their own projection and visual projects. A little research led them to organizing for Barry Threw of Obscura Digital to give a talk at SVA about his work with TouchDesigner. "After that we were hooked and convinced to secure the 4 month independent study." says Kamil "The rest is all love!"”

Dev Harlan 2011

Dev says he’d toyed with TD years ago back in 2011 but didn’t make anything till the bike piece:

D: Had you ever used TouchDesigner before?

DH: I'd toyed with TouchDesigner many years ago while it was still in early development. It's only in the last two years that I've really began using it in earnest and incorporating it into my everyday work flow.

D: Tell us about some of the motivations and concepts driving what you do.

DH: In my recent practice developing sculptural work, my motivation has been to synthesize tangible surfaces with an augmented reality of sorts, visualizing an alternate life inside inanimate objects. I'm also really interested in objects that can act as illumination sources, so in some respects I'm exploring hypothetical lighting design of the future.

https://derivative.ca/community-post/dev-harlans-deluxe-electric-art/60794

Brandon Epperson 2011

My early touch stuff was for Fashion week up at Lincoln center in 2011-2012 era, did a bunch of different shows, sometimes 2 a day and lobby installations, but damn have no idea if I have old photos or video;

CFDA awards is where I met Alex Czetwertynski. I’ll look for some media. Kanye was like 2015, also my Tiffany show at Duggal almost 10 years ago. The tree growing up the Texas university clock tower. Lol

We were both mainly using it for fashion show and theater projections.

Some dance stuff. I was transitioning from Jitter and Quartz composer to Touch because it ran smoother

David Bianciardi 2013

I remember it well b/c it was just after Alex C and I started working together on Doug Aiken's piece for seattle art museum & his moving to NYC was great for that collab.

Mirror at SAM debuted in early 2013 IIRC. Station-to-Station (the train piece) was later - but i think also in 2013, and that was Vincent Houze's first project while at AV&C.

Vincent Houze 2013

So for me the story was meeting you Greg (and Markus and Ben I think but can't remember) at Resonate 2013 in Belgrade, Greg recently showed me he has my business card from that time :D then you connected me to David B in NYC and I came summer 2013, Doug Aitken LED train was second project, first one was a night event for target/philip lim collab

https://www.av-controls.com/target-phillip-lim-stylescape/

I think I was already connected with Kamil online, was more active on Facebook at that time, and met him at one of the first touchin NYC (Gabriel Pulecio was there amongst others), and I connected with Alex C through AV&C around the same time. And gave some talks and did small installations for a few touchin/volvox events

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frmF83y4k9I

I think the installations were at volvox parties, not touchin events technically

https://www.instagram.com/reel/BSpJ8-PhA8w/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/_QSvMPkW70/

gabriel pulecio

Gabriel Pulecio Studio: Founded in 2015 the studio operates in the intersection between art, technology and motion design. For the past two years, Gabriel has been focusing his digital expertise on creating interactive sculptures and non-linear installations that push the boundaries between digital and physical mediums. His studio not only serves as a laboratory for spatial research and prototyping, but also as an interactive showcase where Gabriel's original works are installed and exhibited. Located in Brooklyn, NY