Murmuration: - Technology creates emotion

Lille Lungegårdsvannet is simply the most visible spot in Bergen. This octagonal water right in the city of Bergen is 700 meters in circumference, and is not an artificial lake. It will be under greater focus in the evening of Wednesday 22 May, as the Bergen International Festival 2013 officially opens outdoors with especially composed electronic concert called Murmuration. It is set within an ever-changing multimedia-light-sculpture using latest high-end-technology in the form of 35 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), LED-architecture and artful light design.

– I find it very fascinating that a technical device is able to transform itself through its movements into an almost natural creature, says Sven Sören Beyer of phase7, the performing art group designing the show. – In this way, technology creates emotion.

This audio visual language display of a 40-minute electro-composition features 8 dancers, 4 lurs, 1 children´s choir, 35 quadrocopters and 150 singers from Bergen. Succeeding the main phase7 live performers, Norwegian lur-players will be featured in the composition and thus build a musical bridge between the famous traditional Norwegian instrument and high end electro beats.

Beyer lay emphasis on the exciting concept of using technology for creating art, in addition to our daily life usage of it, as it is increasingly becoming the tools of our time.

– The visual transformation is boosted by the technical devices. Drones become main actors in a piece of art, not war, asserts Beyer.

Simply put, a murmuration is one of the most fascinating nature phenomena known to mankind: a flock of starlings hovering in the sky in an unfailing formation-flight.

Even though words may not be enough to describe this great phenomenal; phase 7’s aptitude in creating a moving three-dimensional pictogram of ultra-modern drones is a splendid experience that should never be missed.

– The challenge is always new and of course we try to create something very special for the citizens and guests of Bergen city, anticipates Beyer. – Swarm like behavior can be found in many aspects of real and virtual life. Associations towards different aspects of human actions are the artistic approach.

The concert is symbolic for faster and faster evolving communication of everyday life, reminding us that we all are connected within the stream of enlarged reality.