Light and Sound is being organised by PQ's general commissioner, scenographer Boris Kudli?ka, and by UK-based sound designer Steve Brown. The section will feature an exhibition, interactive presentations of the latest approaches to sound and lighting, and panel discussions, with the personal participation of famous artists such as Scanner, Tod Machover, Olaf Winter and Felice Ross.
"Light and sound have spent many years in the shadows. But this situation has been changing as a result of constantly improving technologies and artists' as well as audiences' increasing demand for ever more spectacular projects. The two fields are especially attractive for musicians, graphic artists, and designers . . . And this works in the other direction, too - people from the world of theatre find themselves hired to create opulent mega-concerts or to come up with the visual design for fashion shows," says Kudli?ka. More about the "Light and Sound" section and about the Prague Quadrennial in general can be found at the web address below.
As part of the festival, unique artistic experiences will be created in the Sound Kitchen, a space for performative audio installations that will be given an interactive character through the use of laptops and other portable devices; Elsewhere, Light speaks, a lighting design exhibition at the New Stage, will present the work of leading designers across all theatrical disciples: drama, opera, installations, as well as the increasingly popular area of public space performances. New documentary Theatre Svoboda, will also receive a screening. Focussed on world-renowned Czech scenographer Josef Svoboda, whose innovative work in the area of lighting design changed the field of scenography all over the world, the film was directed by Svoboda's grandson Jakub Hejna.
Also taking place, a series of discussions with leading lighting and sound designers promise a comprehensive and, in terms of the range of guests from all over the world, entirely unique programme marathon, say organisers.
(Claire Beeson)
