Lumentum {Live hyperformance – openformance}

Artwork

Instrument, Sculpture, Openformance, Hyperformer

by Sebastian Gonzalez Dixon

Lumentum is a specialized evolution of my long-term project Momentum. It is designed specifically for a two-part live experience: a structured hyperformance involving a master performer and a collaborative live music set featuring Lumen Club, where the instrument is handed over to the audience for direct interaction.

The Instrument: Momentum

At the core of the experience is an electronic, sonic, and visual instrument activated by the inertia of its own mass.

Design & Form: A large-scale, weighted tubular sculptural object.
Technology: Equipped with a suite of motion sensors and wireless transmitters.
Synthesis: The movement data is mapped in real-time to a custom synthesis system, generating high-fidelity audio and video signals that respond dynamically to every tilt, rotation, and swing.

The Concept: From Physics to “Openformance”

Drawing from the physical law of momentum ($p = mv$), the work explores the relationship between mass and velocity. In this context, the user must physically challenge the object’s inertia and entropy.

The Feedback Loop: The interaction creates a symbiotic relationship where the audiovisual response stimulates the user’s movement.
Creative Momentum: This loop drives the performer to discover unique patterns and nuances, resulting in what I define as an “Openformance”—a state of spontaneous, interpretative dialogue between the human, the object, and the audience.

The Collective Act: Spectators as Creators

The defining highlight of the show at La Cinemateca was the organic dissolution of the boundary between the stage and the audience. During the second phase of the set, a group of more than 20 spectators spontaneously transitioned from the seating area to the stage. This collective of “spectator-creators” began passing the instrument between one another, using its weight and reactive feedback to drive their own dance and movement. In this moment, the performance was no longer a solo act; it became a self-organizing community display where the public took full authorship of the audiovisual environment, performing for one another in a vibrant, shared ritual.

Public Exhibition & Impact

Lumentum was showcased as part of the Experimental Film Festival of Bogotá (CineAutopsia) within the EXPANDED CODE LIVE showcase. The project was presented alongside a week of intensive workshops and performances involving over 15 international and local artists, solidifying its place within Bogotá’s cutting-edge media arts scene.