Looking Outwards 11- Simin Li

In Memoriam Michel Waisvisz was a project done by Nicolas Collins in 2009 to remember the life of Michel Waisvisz who was also a musical composer and inventor of experimental electronic musical instruments. The instrument used in this performance is a simple candle along with a device used to pick up the movement of the flame. The flame controls the oscillators possibly through a temperature sensor.

The way the artist’s artistic abilities are manifested in this project is through his movement of the detector. As the detector moves further or closer to the flame the music changes in pitch and volume. He moves the detector as though it is the baton of a conductor. Another way might be that the artist tuned the device to make it produce the best sounds possible. At the beginning of the performance I did not feel like it was very interesting. However, as the candle started burning out, the flame started flickering which caused the music to be somewhat chaotic. The flickering of the candle and the change in music reminded me of a person struggling for life, refusing to die out and gasping for breath. After a while, the flame dies out as all flames do. All light is gone and the only thing you can hear is silence. The use of a candle in this instrument is very suitable for the artist’s intensions.

Links:

Nicolas Collins Website

Nicolas Collins: Live At Café Oto February 2010

Feedback Examples: Nicolas Collins

In Memoriam Michel Waisvisz by Nicolas Collins on Youtube