Van Gogh Wobbulator

In the first full day of the residency at Signal Culture, I played around with the video and audio synthesizers. It’s a new world for me.

While my focus is on the Machine Data Dreams project, I also want to play with what they have and get familiar with the amazing analog equipment.

I started with this 2 minute video, which I shot earlier this summer at Musee d’Orsay. I had to document the odd spectacle: visitor after visitor would take photos of this famous Van Gogh self-portrait…despite the fact you can get a higher-quality version online.

I ran this through a few patches and into the Wobbulator, which affects the electronic signal on the CRT itself.

Ewa Justka, who is the toolmaker-in-residence here, and who is building her own audio synthesizer spruced up the accompanying audio. I captured a 20-minute sample.

What I love about the result is that the repetitive 2-minute video takes on its own life, as the two of us tweaked knobs, made live patches and laughed a lot.