BACKGROUND

Visual Jamming (or "VJing") - is a form of performance that creates moving visual imagery using video projection. It has become a popular form of technological art / performance and hobby around the world, with the decrease in cost of Desktop Video tools, and affordability of older professional video production equipment.

The group behind video combustion are using these technologies to create new kinds of experience and entertainment, which are visually driven, immersive and engaging.

Video Combustion creates an alternate reality using multiple screens and multiple (different) streams of video and audio, which are presented and processed in a live performance, incorporating dance and movement within the structure.

The concept has been developed in workshops, online discussion and jam sessions to create a structure that all of the artists (who have come from various backgrounds) use as the basis for an improvisational performance fusing all of the elements into a cohesive whole.

We are attempting also to cater for a diverse audience - theatre goers and young clubbers, by presenting the event in two phases. The first phase "Memory" is an ambitious and densely woven multi-stream event with live performance. The second phase is more freeform and improvisational, and we encourage the audience to dance and interact and enjoy the space.

Using video performance and VJing as the underlying structure, we combine dance music, theatre, sound and image to tantalise your eyes, ears and mind!.

Video Combustion is about bringing together artists from many backgrounds and weaving their work together in a live event. A live, improvisational, multi-disciplinary adventure... with a focus on the visual, immersion in another reality and inspiration to dance.

WEBLOG

May 2002 - planning for the May/June video combustion is underway! A dozen artists are working together to develop the script, structure and installation for Video Combustion Alpha Release.

January 2002 - Announcement of plans for Video Combustion Alpha Release, and Release One.

Sept 29 2001- Automatic Documentary at Electrofringe 2k01. LIVE documentary mixdown using the QUILT technology and multi-screen mixing.

Sept 26-31 2001 - Electrofringe 2001
Vidi-yo Lab workshops, Lumiere concrete and other events organised by the vidi-yo nexus and guests.

March 25th 2001 - Multi Artist jam session at Freaky Loops 2001, featuring VJ multi-mixer set-up. Combinations included sets, parallel feeds, content creators and mixing artists. Unlike solo VJ sets, VJs were able to adopt unusual creative and specialised roles during the live performance.

Dec 27th 2000 - Video Combustion the Prototype
Members of the vidi-yo nexus in NSW decided to organise a public event that explored creative possibilities of multi-artist projection and performance. Programmer Daniel Heckenberg teamed up with Brian Murray and Justin Maynard to develop QUILT - the experimental multi-artist / multi-screen interface.

October 2000 - The Vidi-yo Nexus
Following the connections made amongst Australian VJs, the vidi-yo nexus was formed. Hosted by projectroom with publiching system by Go Nova.

October 8th 2000 - Experimental Jam at Electrofringe 2k01.
Sean Healy, Nick Ritar (electrofringe) and Justin Maynard, Cindi Drennan (Projectroom & tesseract) coordinated a stream of sessions for VJs, bringing together VJs from around Australia to present and participate. Presenters included Eyefi, John Jacobs, Aleph-One, Cicada, 4th Dimension and more. The final evening, after the sessions were over, all participants came together for a multi artist video jam combining all the equipment and projectors into a large "video machine". The vibe was one of collective creativity, and the output a delight to the eyes and ears. It inspired members of the group to develop it further.