christosquier.uk / hello@christosquier.uk / +447792294426
I'm looking for a creative technologist to develop and deliver Muon : Bloom for its world premiere at Blink Cincinnati this October, 8 - 11th.
Blink is the largest public art event in the US, the last edition attracted 2 million visitors.
About me
I’m a composer, installation artist, multi-instrumentalist and creative director, based in London, UK.
Currently working at the intersection of particle physics and new media art.
Over the past 5 years I've built some award winning live particle data-to-visual installations (please see Particle Shrine and Visitor).They utilise projection, LED’s, kinetic and spatial audio responses.Alongside this I’m founder of experimental brass band, Perhaps Contraption.You can see my showreel and other projects here: www.christosquier.uk
The team for this project is very small: just myself and Chris Ball (creative technologist on my previous installations). He will just be working in the UK. The team travelling to the USA will be myself and this new hire, supported by the Blink production team.
The piece
Muon : Bloom is a partially generative projection mapping and music installation driven by live data from 3 bespoke cosmic-ray detectors mounted on covered truss towers (12” wide. Left and right towers: 10’ central ‘hero’ tower: 20’) in front of a large outdoor facade: 19.25m × 10.83m / 63' 2" × 35' 6"
Muons are highly random subatomic particles from deep space. When they pass through the detectors in the installation, the energy is transmuted;A flash of photons in the scintillator, converted to voltage, then a MIDI value. This is sent via RF and used to trigger and shape the visuals and score in real-time. Higher energy muons create louder / more dynamic responses.
The experience is accompanied by voiceover and poetic projected text to explain the underlying science and create a dramaturgical arc.Visuals are a mix of short pre rendered sections, with the majority being generative. Similarly, composition is a combination of fixed, structured sections, embellished with melodic and percussive layers, triggered by the data.
Shows are approximately 20 mins, bookended by 10 minute, calmer, generative holding states.
Work in progress web page / creative development video: https://christosquier.uk/muon-bloom/
Full technical spec available before interviewing.
The role / Who I’m looking for
-
Fluent in projection mapping and TouchDesigner, someone who can build a solid system to interface with Ableton live
-
Passion for creating awe and wonder with audiovisual arts
-
Confident in creating a cohesive and engaging aesthetic, linked closely to live data and score
-
Passion for collaboration – working closely with me to create an intricate, fascinating visual journey
-
Great communication skills – check-ins at least twice a week up to the deadline
-
Interest in particle physics and cosmology is a bonus!
Stack: TouchDesigner primarily, alongside Processing, Ableton and Max/MSP. Notch for fixed sequences if preferred.
As this system as been used on my previous installations, this role isn't building the engine from scratch; It's developing and honing a new visual language on top of this concept.
Concretely, that means:
-
A fixed intro + outro sequence (approx 3 mins intro, 2 mins outro) which introduces the science and the technology and concludes the experience. I have rough starting points for this. The bulk of the intro can be manipulated cloud chamber footage, reacting to text and score.
-
Simple animated text choreographed to the voiceover.
-
A range of generative visual palettes; engaging, intricate, distinct. Think fluid dynamics and particle systems, infused with cosmic reverie! All geared towards complementing the data source and the score.
-
Left and right detector reactions will have matching aesthetics; think along the lines of rough, noisy, wire frame outputs linked to percussive sonic ‘hits’. The central detector will have more impressive, colourful/chordal/melodic and ‘blooming’ audiovisual reactions.
-
Creating a range of exciting responses mapped to each truss tower, which contrast with each ‘bloom’ response.
-
A live ‘muon counter’ in the corner of the canvas for each show. Nice to have: total number of muons detected during the festival.
-
Commissioning it on the Cincinnati facade: warp, blend, alignment and colour in situ, then running the show alongside me across the live dates (7 - 11pm over 4 days)
-
Crucially, creating a stable, well tested system. So after installation, the role is mainly supervision.
Scope: Time is quite tight, so I’m open to descoping trickier elements where essential.
What already exists
-
Roughly 10 minutes of the score, plus numerous generative sonic ‘palettes’
-
Script / show arc
-
Design direction and references
-
Two animation sequences in HTML/canvas as working sketches – a muon's journey from supernova to detector, and a wireframe human figure with wave propagation through a point cloud
-
3 x CosmicWatch scintillator detectors, which I own
-
Blink supply and rig the projectors: 2 Panasonic PT-RZ21K onto a 2857×1946 canvas
-
Blink supply sleeved truss towers (left and right 10 foot, central ‘hero’ tower 20 foot)
Dates
Development: August–September, remote OK, but in person better
Rough draft due: August 17th (work in progress, possible movement on this date by approx 2 weeks)
Possible in-person testing: London, or southern California (ideally LA) around 12–19 September (open to other locations and dates)
Final Content deadline: Sunday 20th Sept (though, due to the generative nature, some tweaks are possible after this date)
Travel and arrival: Tuesday 6 October
Build and test: Wednesday 7 October
Live Dates: Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 October, Strike from 11pm Sunday 11 October
Travel: Monday 12 October
Fee
Development fee: System build, August–September: £700
Onsite fee: 5 days at £170 per day: £850
Per diem Onsite – Wed 7 to Sun 11 Oct (5 days × £40): £200
Travel
Per diem Travel days – Tue 6 Oct, Mon 12th Oct, (2 Days × £30): £60
Airport transfer fee – local: £30
Airport transfer fee – USA: £60
Total: £1900 (approximately $2,553 / €2,218 at current rates)
As well as:
Return flights and checked baggage
Central Cincinnati hotel for 6 nights (6–12 Oct, own room)
If required, ESTA covered (£29.50)
Named credit on the work
Payment terms
I have 75% of the fee already, and will receive the final 25% on Oct 31st.
-
25% on signing
-
50% on a working system demonstrated by Sept 14th or sooner if we get there
-
25% by 31 October (when the festival releases the final payment)
I'd like to get flights and accommodation booked as soon as we've agreed, so earlier is better for everyone.
The Budget, honestly
The festival budget alone is challenging. To make the development fee something better rather than token, I've added money from a separate arts grant I have secured.I've kept my own fee to a minimum (you're actually paid slightly more than I am) because paying you better for the build mattered more to me than topping up my own.
I've been doing the concept, composition and production myself for months, unpaid, because I really believe in this piece!That’s not meant as a guilt trip, it’s meant to show my commitment to making this a success.
But, I can't pretend that the money matches the ambition, yet.Flights, hotel and per diems are all covered, but the fee is below what this skilled work deserves.The potential upside is in the connections built at this incredible festival and where this piece goes next. I'll be working hard to make that happen.What I'm hoping for beyond this
Everything I make needs someone technical alongside me, and I'd like to find a collaborator I work with longer term; someone who believes in this concept, and is happy to let their ideas shape the pieces, rather than just implement them.
I'm wary of the "this could lead to more work" line. It's often unfounded and I've been on the wrong end of it myself. But I am genuinely looking for a long-term visual partner, and if this goes well I'd want it to be the first of many more projects.I regularly apply for new commissions, and Napa Lighted Art Festival have expressed interest in this piece for 2027 (to be confirmed)
I’m also planning to document Muon : Bloom professionally, to obtain excellent promotional assets (of which you will have access to). Then I’ll be working hard to make sure it’s well promoted and can tour as much as possible.If this is a good fit, I’d like you on that journey too.
Interested?
Please send me:
-
A portfolio or a few links to work you're proud of; live-data, projection, TouchDesigner especially
-
Anything you've done that feels related, even loosely
-
A few lines on your first thoughts: how you'd approach this, the palettes, or anything you'd push back on
-
Any questions, anything in this brief that isn’t clear
You don't need to write much. I'm more interested in how you think about the work than a polished pitch. Following that, I’d set up an informal interview, with the aim of getting things contracted and moving as soon as possible.
Thanks for taking the time to read all this, I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
– Christo