Ambient Underwater Landscape Makes Immersive Audiovisual Experience Kamiel Rongen, Amsterdam-based abstract audiovisual artist who goes by the name of Waterballet, created this video using water, paint and a camera. De tuin van Julin is an immersive underwater landscape turned audiovisual experience. Just as he has done with his other creations in his Waterballet work, Kamiel created the music for the video, too – a part of his creative approach that relates to the fact that, increasingly in the digital world, allows him to concentrate on atmospheres and tower above the traps of working strictly within one idiom. “My work predominately focuses on the balance of sound and visuals that construct specific feelings and atmospheres, submerging the viewer in an abstract audiovisual landscape. I am fascinated by the contrast of nature and toxicity.” – Kamiel Rongen We sat down for a chat with the artist. THE PLUS: How did you go about creating this? Kamiel Rongen: I have been fascinated by audiovisual art since watching the Zen TV DVD by Ninjatune fifteen years ago. Ever since, I’ve wanted to find my ways of making creations like it. It’s very relaxing to film this stuff – all the little surprises are quite addicting. And I find it interesting to visualize a ‘digital’ world in a physical way. I also wanted to play with the idea of real and not real, it’s timely in a world where everything seems fake more and more. TP: When did you begin creating this type of audiovisual work? KR: Eight years ago – at that time I had some anxieties and wanted my own world where I was in control. So I started for a little while with stop motion, but after doing some experiments with water, I got hooked. TP: How do you choose the colours you work with? KR: The music is definitely a factor with adding colours. But I never work with a plan or colour scheme; everything is quite random. There’s definitely interaction with the liquids and colours. TP: What comes first, music or visuals? KR: I prefer to shoot the visuals with the music in the background, so it guides me in a way. At the end I start editing, and at that point re-arrange the music again. TP: Which physical materials fascinate you the most? KR: Everything that’s hydrophobic – materials that don’t like water, like oil and nail polish. The fact that it doesn’t mix with the water makes it useful. TP: What other projects do you have coming up? KR: My upcoming project is enjoying the summer. For in the future I would love to work with a 360 camera.
