The Song Trapper

A multidisciplinary artist, Jakob Kudsk Steensen explores the themes of ecology and psychology through the lens of technology. For the past ten years, he has been experimenting with tools such as video game engines, generative systems and photogrammetry, which he combines with fieldwork to create virtual worlds. Focusing on little-known, rare or endangered ecosystems – desert lakes, underwater volcanoes, wetlands and glaciers – his works explore a variety of narratives, emotions and philosophies to convey the impact of the world’s transformations.

The Song Trapper is a unique installation that blends moving images, virtual performance and spatialised sound. Shown on LED screens, the video features the Song Trapper, the first character in a series currently being developed as part of an opera-video game project entitled Evoker.

Originating from an ink and watercolour drawing, this character was modelled in 3D and then animated within virtual worlds created by the artist. Unable to speak, the Song Trapper travels through this universe, collecting surrounding sounds which he assembles, remixes and reproduces using musical devices attached to his body. During his journey, he traverses desert, marshy and salt-flat areas in search of fragments of voices and sonic remnants. As in video games, these environments transform in response to the protagonist’s actions, with movements, sounds and landscapes harmonising. Guiding the narrative, a free-verse poem written by the artist appears as subtitles, revealing the Song Trapper’s inner thoughts and reflections as he wanders.

Fidèle à sa démarche, Jakob Kudsk Steensen a fait appel à différents collaborateurs : des spécialistes en motion capture danois, l’actrice Iris Thomsen pour la chorégraphie, Matt McCorkle et la chanteuse Lyra Pramuk pour la bande sonore. Afin de garantir la dimension performative et spontanée du processus créatif, l’artiste les a invités à répondre directement au texte et aux images. Pour prolonger l’atmosphère de la vidéo, Jakob Kudsk Steensen a plongé la Galerie 8 dans une teinte verdâtre, où flotte une senteur spécialement conçue avec le parfumeur Yann Vasnier, et dans laquelle se mêlent notes aquatiques et amphibiennes.