Apparatjik updates

It has been a very busy year so far for Apparatjik. For those of you who may not have been following this project closely, here is an overview of what has been happening in the world of the Apparatjiks in 2011.

In early February, Apparatjik announced a two-week installation and three performances at the Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, which would be taking place in March.

Also in February, Apparatjik were invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the newly renovated Deutsche Bank Towers in Frankfurt. This private event took place on 25 February, and the band performed inside a 3×3 metre cube situated in the centre of the foyer, on which video images were projected.

Deutsche Bank

Watch videos from this performance on YouTube:
Look Kids | Arrow and Bow | Snow Crystals

Apparatjik returned to Frankfurt in early March to participate in a three day mini-summit as part of ‘Globe: Art, Music and Performance in the Deutsche Bank Towers’. At the summit, Apparatjik participated in several sessions, and held a talk on the topic ‘Sustaining Creativity Creating Sustainability’, encouraging dialogue with the participants. The band also premiered their new single, Combat Disco, which was released on March 28.

Apparatjik.com

See more photos from Globe on Apparatjik.com.

‘The Apparatjik Light Space Modulator’ at Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin opened on Saturday 12 March with a performance by Apparatjik at 9:00pm. The band performed inside a large-scale cube, while images were projected on the sides of the cube and onto the glass windows surrounding the building.

From 13 – 25 March, gallery visitors could experience three different daily programs: ‘Responsive Light Space Modulator’ – Everyone is a utensil; ‘Apparatjik TV’ – Film on rotating transmission; and ‘Pixel City’. Another highlight of the Berlin installation was the ‘disco Smart car’, a Smart car covered entirely with small mirrors. According to the Smart YouTube Channel:

“smart has come up with a unique project in collaboration with the artband Apparatjik. A remodelled smart fortwo electric drive is covered in reflective glass discs from nose to boot, the hubcaps glitter and even the windows are mirrored. Judge for yourself that the mobile disco ball does not just cut a smart figure, it is also fully functional.”

This extraordinary car captured the attention of auto enthusiasts worldwide, and is featured along with the ‘Combat Disco’ single in this Smart short film:

The installation at Neue Nationagalerie Berlin concluded with two more performances by Apparatjik, which took place on 26 & 27 March. The last performance commemorated the 125 year anniversay of Mies van der Rohe’s birth, and included ‘Cathedral Footsteps’ performed by Deutsches Kammerorchester, conducted by Apparatjik.

There was a short segment about the Berlin installation on NRK2 during the program Nasjonalgalleriet:

On 13 May, Apparatjik performed their first concert in Moscow at the Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design summer opening night. According to the Strelka web site, “Apparatjik led a closed workshop with Russian artists and musicians. Together they will work on a new interactive installation, which will connect Apparatjik’s creative work with local Russian context. The results of this collaboration will be shown at the Yota Space Festival in St. Petersburg this fall.”

Later in May, Magne and Jonas participated in a workshop at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, Germany. There they worked together with participants to build a machine out of Smart car parts. You can see the result and some other photos here. Jonas posted this group photo from the workshop on his Tumblr blog:

As for upcoming events, Apparatjik will return to Russia in October for the Yota Space Festival in St. Petersburg. The band has also announced that they will perform at the Steirischer Herbst Festival of New Art in Graz, Austria on 15 October. Tickets are now
available for the concert in Graz.

Follow Apparatjik:

Official Site | Facebook | Twitter

Related Media:

DB: ‘Creative Tripwiring’ – Magne Furuholmen on the absurd universe of Apparatjik

QRO Mag: Interviews: Magne Furuholmen of Apparatjik & a-ha

Artnet.de: Interview mit Magne Furuholmen

Apparatjik Flickr: Photos from Neue Nationagalerie Berlin

Moscow Times: Strelka Summer Offers ‘Responsible Fun’