Utrecht’s Dom tower has been on fire on Friday September 23, with VJ op de Dom 2011. This yearly event from Treaty of Utrecht has appeared two times before with successful events called DJ op de Dom (in 2009 and 2010), with thousands of dancing visitors.
The visuals by Born Digital were so spectacular, that the name 'DJ op de Dom' is exchanged with 'VJ op de Dom'. This doesn't mean no dancing anymore: with live music and the 'nightmayor' of Utrecht Boemklatsch and other DJ's, it's hard to just stand there. But most of all, it means that the Dom tower and the Dom square will look better than ever, in cooperation with Z25, Born Digital, Holland Animation Film Festival, Netherlands Film Festival and Impakt. Dutch presenter and actress Isolde Hallensleben will host the evening.
Invited by the HAFF, Japanese artist-animator Motomichi Nakamura gave a live performance with video graphics, frightening and amusing characters and slashing computer music. Minimum use of color (black, white and red) as well as a focus on the creation of characters and creatures using simple graphic elements characterizes Motomichi’s work visually across digital and traditional media. The subjects in his work often reflect conflictive characteristics, for instance they can be frightening and humorous, or part human and part monsters.
His digital animation work has been exhibited at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in NYC, Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Brazil and has appeared in Sundance, Res Fest and Onedotzero. He has performed his live video/animation mix at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, the Edinburgh International FIlm Festival, Moscow Contemporary Art Center and at other recognized venues in the U.S. and abroad. Clients include MTV, VH1, USA Networks, Microsoft, EA, Sony and Pocari Sweat. He has also produced music videos for The Knife and Otto Von Schirach.
The Vrede van Utrecht – or Treaty of Utrecht/Peace of Utrecht – is the name of a worldwide peace treaty signed in the city of Utrecht in 1713. It is also the name of the foundation that is planning the celebration to commemorate this important event in 2013. The Treaty of Utrecht foundation is organizing a cultural programme in cooperation with many organizations. The activities will take place in the city and province of Utrecht. The programme links art and culture with current social themes.