Non-manifold geometries describe »fake objects« – items that may look realistic, but cannot exist in the physical world. They take on sensual plausibility in the digital world. One famous example is the Penrose-triangle: Its three beams appear to be positioned at right angles, yet they connect to form a triangle. In 3D-animation, such objects regularly surface through so-called »mesh mistakes.«
Musician Robert Lippok and digital artist Lucas Gutierrez have identified these frequently occurring mistakes in their own artistic practice and have developed data structures to explore these fantastic objects. With »Non-Face« they produce different dimensionalities and create new topological relations. This might not determine the inside or the outside of these impossible objects, but it renders the sonic and visual boundaries of a three-dimensional space tangible. To this end, the composition uses simulated reflections in physical and virtual spaces. Various methods of traditional instrument building are used to transcribe the virtual geometries into musical patterns which, in turn, weave sequences of notes and real-time emulations of different sound sources into multi-layered textures.
Video: Lucas Gutierrez.
Music: Robert Lippok.
Cello: Elif Dimli, Anil Eraslan.
Curatorial consulting: Natalie Keppler.
»Non-Face« is a co-production by Berliner Festspiele / Immersion and Planetarium Hamburg