A few years back I was on tour with my band Bismut. It was 2017 and in Heidelberg at the Beatfabrik, I met Keith Pearson. He was doing the Light Show there in a very analog way.
This is the link https://youtu.be/Sk8QB0VE9-g
I was so impressed, I never saw something like that. Keith told me about the Lightshow Preservation Society Group. I got into it and read all about it.
For me it was a new artform, I felt a bit naive that I had never seen it before! But it sparkled me and I wanted to experiment with light. So I bought an Overhead Projector, some dishes and started with oil and food colours.
And bit by bit I bought different stuff to experiment with.
In 2018 my band had an album presentation, we asked a friend Jan van den Hatert to do some light in an old fashioned way using an OHP.
I started doing visuals in a local venue with 4 Optikinetics Solar 250's and a Slide Projector. Jan and I started working together and we formed PhosPhor Visuals in 2019
We are from Nijmegen in the Netherlands, there is a building with the name " De Grote Broek''. Which means 'The Big Pants'.
It was squatted in the 80's and became a legal living place with a restaurant and get-together place for social minorities.
In the basement is a small music venue called 'De Onderbroek' which means 'Underpants'.
It is a venue, where volunteers organise all sorts of evenings. Different types of music for all sorts of people.
One of my bandmates, Peter Dragt, books under the name of Brownnote bookings. He organises concerts on a monthly basis. Phosphor Visuals are doing the visuals there now every time.
Aside from that, we did different types of evenings. Shows outside, or in a bigger venue.
Our influences? - I have been in the subculture all my life, playing in bands, or organising concerts and now doing Light Shows. I like to be creative, but more I like the moments and memories we create together while doing it.
I like to give something back to the world and this is a way for me to do so. There are many people and groups who inspired me.
To name a few. I mentioned Keith Pearson, he got me to know the Light Shows. Liveshows I have seen: Kosmik Klaus, Marco Menzer, Peter Peterson, Sector 7G and Dwavehead.
They al have different techniques and it is inspiring to see and to know their approach to their creation.
But recently I met Peter Peterson and his wife Ute; we talked all night. I think his dedication and preparation before and during a Light Show are very thorough and precise.
But also together with Dwavehed i did an evening at Doornroosje in Nijmegen, a big music venue.
His way of thinking, focus on detail and dynamic, very creative! And a very nice guy. And what to think about the amazing Marco Broeders and his lightworks!
So to say my main influence, we can learn from each other and each show or practice can be a moment for direction and inspiration.
We have worked with a nice list bands, I shall name a few:
This year (2022) we worked with:
The Black Wizards, The Kettle, Speck, DUNDDW, El Perro,Thammuz, Temple Fang, Low Orbit, Bees made honey in the vayne tree, Thaiti,Space Junk Mafia,
Polymoon, Kommandoh, Triptonus Magdiragdag, Wheel of Smoke, Wight, Lucid Void, A tribute to The Doors, The Machine (NL) Drive by Wire Mt-echo
And the years before:
Beesus, Baardvader, Grotto. Atomic Vulture, Psychonaut, RRRags, Dreckneck, Glowsun, Ramkoers Great Ocean Drive, Lost Moon, Daily Thompson, No man's Valley
Memorable gigs is a hard one. I think I personally liked the show with El Perro the most.
This band was on fire, show #5 in their long tour. Really got me in the groove, but also the positive vibe of this band.
But the last Bees Made Honey in the Vaine Tree was also great.
It is hard to decide. But now and then we really get into a flow by the music of the band. And the visuals are so adapted and well timed to the music, like you really thought about it.
But you didn't, It just became there in the moment...
Jan made the name Phosphor Visuals as a suggestion because Fosfor (in Dutch) was used a the lighting part of a match (Lucifer as we say in dutch). We light shows up!
Now we have a few modified Solars. But at the shows in De Onderbroek we use 7 or 8 Solars and like 5 or 6 Rank Aldis Tutor 2.
Jan made an OHP with a lamp for home improvement, using a toilet ventilator for good airflow.
But we make wheels for the Solars with different materials. I make designs and print it on Lambda C. but Oil Wheels also.
Jan works at a school where they can print in 3D so some wheels are 3D printed.
The first show we ever did was using 4 Optikinetics Solar 250's and at the moment we have 9 Optikinetics Solar 250's, 7 Rank Aldis Tutor 2, 8 Rank Aldis 500/1000, 3 Bubble LED's 230w, 1 Optikinetics K4. Some slide projectors, a few 100 watt projectors and a few OHP's
My favourite part of Light Shows is just doing it, working with the machines and getting different outcomes.
When doing visuals I am so in the moment, I forget everything and experience hyperfocus.
I feel connected to the sound from the band and the lights in my hands, and we can communicate. Aside from that; i like the social contacts that come with it.
And the repairs that need to be done, or the new creations that we are making. So many fun aspects!
At the moment i am a teacher at a 'practical university' for my Day Job (Hogeschool in Dutch).
If i wasn't doing a visual, I would be rebuilding a house, or having a third band.There are many forms to create!
But I think I am only at the beginning of my career as a Lightshow Artist.
Need to learn more from others and myself!
Huibert der Weduwen - November 11th 2022 |
