What is Amsterdam Dance Event?

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is an electronic dance music conference and festival that takes place annually in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The event typically spans five days and includes conferences, panels, workshops, and showcases featuring prominent DJs, producers, and industry experts. The festival component of ADE features hundreds of electronic music performances across various venues in Amsterdam, including clubs, concert halls, and outdoor spaces.

What was my part in making artwork for ADE?

I have been invited to produce visuals for a two-hour live music set at Nxt Museum, where colossal screens are installed on both the wall and the floor. The objective is for my artwork to complement the live performances of two DJs as they entertain a vast audience of ravers.

I was paired with Bill Kouligas and Juliana Huxtable, two musical artists. Along with Nsasi, we collaborated to create one-of-a-kind visuals that synchronized with their music. Furthermore, we performed a live minting with Vertical Crypto Art. this way, the attendees can take a piece of the experience with them.

What is the inspiration behind the artwork?

To accommodate the lengthy set, I divided my visuals into three distinct chapters. The first chapter, titled "Alien Autopsy," revolved around the theme of an extraterrestrial abduction. I aimed for the visuals to be captivating yet abstract enough not to detract from the music's impact.

The second chapter, "TV Noire," turned out to be the most well-received of the three, with multiple NFT sales from this segment. This chapter featured a BDSM-inspired dungeon filled with retro TV sets, chains, and dancers. My aim was to engulf the audience in my previous artwork, displayed on the television sets while they danced in a dimly lit, smoky room.

The third chapter, "Inferno," portrayed a dark room enveloped in strobe lights and smoke, with occasional sightings of demons, goblins, and otherworldly creatures joining the dance. In the center of the room stood a large devil woman, directing everyone to sway to her feverish tune.

I believe that nightlife and dancing can evoke a sense of eerie excitement, and I sought to convey this feeling in my artwork. By infusing humor and a slightly spooky atmosphere into my visuals, I aimed to accentuate the trance-like state we enter while surrounded by strangers on the dance floor.

What were the challenges of making work for Nxt Museum?

Undoubtedly, my most significant challenge was working on such a massive project remotely. I had to send a terabyte of data to Nxt Museum via email, and sometimes the internet connection would cut out, necessitating another 12 hours of uploading footage.

Fortunately, the team I collaborated with was highly competent and a joy to work with. We maintained smooth communication and made all necessary preparations ahead of time to mitigate any technical difficulties that may have arisen during the performance.