OFFF Barcelona 2015: Opening
The long awaited 15th edition of OFFF Barcelona has opened. From digital projects pushing the boundaries of technology to the aesthetics and creative processes of typography and the written word, OFFF Barcelona 2015 has it all.
As proud media partners for a second consecutive year, we take you on the journey to one of Barcelona’s main events with fluoro reporting on ground. These are the highlights so far.
The early evening of day one saw New York based programmer, artist and self-proclaimed analyst Robert Hodgin offer an intriguing account of a complex visual experience project. An interesting account unfolded from the moment he was hired to design real-time interactive simulations with emphasis on aesthetics. Given this task, Hodgin first experimented with the impact of audio with particle physics, which led to his commissioning to create the now standard visualisation program that accompanies iTunes. Hodgin explained that he was then hired by the Auckland War Memorial Museum to apply his algorithmic codes using a complex set of physical laws to create a 270-degree visual experience called the Oculus. This would allow viewers to virtually experience the oceanographic phenomenon of a Bait Ball. Delving deeper into the project, Hodgin used the rules of algorithmic Flocking and applied a set of rules by which groups of fish, starlings and other animals organically and realistically interact together in groups. While the entire process seems highly complex, the main challenge according to Hodgin is to create these visually intensive particle systems using current processing power.
Later in the evening the PostPanic group offered the audience a glimpse into the world of film with a captivating preview to their film pitch Sundays. To gain momentum for filming in Mexico City, they initially developed a kickstarter project in the shape of a dystopian, post-apocalyptic nail-biter that they hoped would later be spun into a feature length film. During the Q&A session the group highlighted the importance of creative alliances in the film-creation process. Moreover, they explained how they built the world and musical scores based on theory and emotion in order to replicate a sense of time and age.
In a different design genre, typographic duo Sawdust brought deep insights from their expertise in the world of the aesthetically written word. The duo explained that in the process of pursuing beauty, artists realises that no one will value or pay attention to it more than the creators themselves. According to Sawdust, the artistic process starts with finding a reference point in the subject matter and then deconstructing and reconstructing in the building process. For the duo, this approach in applying skill is what has drawn the attention of clients such as the New York Times, Wired, Nike and Audi for the purpose of creating illustrations and bespoke typography.
The last speaker on the opening day was Gmunk. A veteran of the OFFF Festival, Gmunk continues to dazzle and entertain audiences with his psychedelically inspired volumetric particle art, motion graphics, UI, pure in-camera productions and general comical demeanour. Having created the visual UI depicted in big cinematic blockbusters like Tron and Oblivion, Gmunk has shifted gears and re-invented himself many times over in order to pursue projects closer to his heart. With his pearls of wisdom he challenged members of the audience to look to their surroundings for inspiration and to seek collaborations in order to maintain versatility and sharpness in the industry.
Other notable speakers of the opening day included AKQA who shared these wise words to the audience “When it comes to an idea we like to disrupt order and then find strength to cut through Chaos”. In a similar manner multi-award winning illustrator Lizzie Mary Cullen finding beauty in darkness. “Wielder of the Pen. Through art and by reclaiming public spaces one has an opportunity to be present in a moment. Living in a city like London it is natural to keep ones head down however even in the darkness and sadness one can find beauty. When being engaged in drawing one can enter a state of peace and become carried away for hours in a state of peace.“
With electricity and inspiration in the air at every turn, OFFF Barcelona will continue to feed the future until Saturday 30 May 2015. Stay connected and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for real-time updates from Barcelona.
Research and photography: Julian Luskin.
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