Winding

Originally choreographed in 2005 by Darrel Toulon without music, ‘Winding’ is a tale of creativity and art, technology and human accomplishment. Performed on stage and in an AVL wind tunnel that can produce wind speeds of up to 120km/h, music and videoinstallations were added later to complete this revolutionary technology art performance.

The music was contributed by Gerhard Nierhaus, the video installations by Herwig Baumgartner. With these additions, the technology art performance was completed in a unique project commissioned by AVL.

Illustrating the human struggle and the interaction of technology and emotion, the dancers pulled themselves along a rope against the force of the wind. This symbolic act represents themes such as success and perseverance and the endeavours of man through technology and mechanisation.

By employing videography and video projection, the performers are transformed into instrumental and technical elements of the overall performance. Like parts of a machine it poses questions about our relationship with technology – do we work with it, or are we part of it?