ABSOLUT NIGHTSCAPES
SEPTEMBER 20, 2014
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Absolut Vodka approached Charles with a unique proposition: to create an interactive pyrotechnic spectacle surrounding their giant glass cube in the middle of the South African savanna.
Absolut Vodka gave Charles carte blanche in designing this ephemeral piece of performance art, which was part dance party, part spectacle, and part artistic endeavor. They wanted an immersive experience above and beyond a great night at the club, a reinvention of the nightscape. Charles brought his unique views on interactive art and audience participation into play and collaborated with long-time friend and pyrotechnician Dave X to design an innovative and memorable show that was executed by Fireworks for Africa.
Working with local crews in South Africa and the Absolut Vodka producers, Charles developed an “interactive dance floor” whereby the partygoers’ feet hitting the floor would trigger the fireworks. The musicians were coached to engage the audience specifically to elicit the triggers. Thus, the interaction of the band with the audience was transformed into an amazing display of fire, light, and sound.
“The audience being part of the performance, being the spectacular...it generates all these amazing emotions in people. That is the power and beauty of this artistic moment.” - Charles Gadeken
Photography by Kim Corne-Anne
Photos by Kim Corne-Ann