«Virtual Crossings» gathers artists from Switzerland and Argentina to do a long-distance collaboration through motion capture technology as three dancers interact in real time between Geneva [CH] and Buenos Aires [AR]. At a time when travel restrictions have become a norm it makes sense to study new virtual spaces and create a pipeline of production and remote collaboration between groups of artists and technicians involving movement, motion capture and digital arts.

Looking at that, Cie. Gilles Jobin wished to share its expertise, tools and skills, based on movement and immersive technologies and learn from collaborations. The aim of «Virtual Crossings» was to create accessible artistic and technical virtual collaborations to promote creation and research between digital artists and developers from different parts of the world and with similar creative interests.

Thanks to the animation of each performer’s avatars and real-time motion capture techniques, they connected and dance together, in the same virtual space, in real time, even if they are separated by thousands of kilometers.

This first project made it possible to consolidate the link between the Argentinian and Swiss groups, with the close collaboration between Gilles Jobin [CH], Edgar Mercado [AR], and Damian Turkieh [AR].

This exploration between the different aspects of movement in virtual and real spaces resulted in a public show at the Cultural San Martin during the Noviembre Electronico 2020 , as a video projection installation on two screens, set behind the Argentinian dancers, who danced in real time and connected to a dancer in Geneva, and a second public show in February 2021 during the Festival Internacional de los artes de Buenos Aires (FIBA).

A project in connection with the South America programme «COINCIDENCIA» of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. Supported by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. This play had, in its initial stage, the support of the H2O Prize, the collaboration of Dr. Daniel de Florian and Noviembre Electrónico, from Cultural San Martín.

CREDITS

Creative Collaboration: Gilles Jobin, Edgardo Mercado and Damian Turkieh
Producer in Geneva: Gilles Jobin’s Company
Dancer: Susana Panadès Diaz
Creative Director and Technologist: Camilo De Martino
3D Artist: Tristan Siodlak
Programmer: Pierre-Igor Berthet Real-time Motion Capture: Gilles Jobin’s Company
General Technician and Mocap: Hugo Cahn
Producer in Buenos Aires: Edgardo Mercado
Dancers: María Kuhmichel, Mariela Puyol
Live Sound Deisgn: Kchi Homeless
Creative Director and Technologist: Damián Turkieh
Motion Capture and Visuals: Damián Turkieh, Ariel Azcurra
Technical Video Operator: Nicolás Salguero
Technical Producers: Realidad 360 Argentina

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

GILLES JOBIN

Artistic director of the Gilles Jobin Company. He was present at FIBA 2003 with The Moebius Strip.

EDGARDO MERCADO

Stage director, choreographer and professor at UNA. He investigates the interrelations between body, space and time.

DAMIÁN TURKIEH

Founder and director of Realidad 360° Argentina, filmmaker, researcher and teacher of immersive technologies.