One our favorite questions for people who have been using VDMX is to ask them how they would show it to someone who has never used it before and we are especially excited to see how teachers are introducing the software in classrooms and workshops. Everyone learns best in a different way and it is always helpful for us to see new approaches to VJ techniques. Last week we were joined for a guest tutorial by Kalma who showed off an example of how to get started with VDMX and for this post we are excited to get more information about the artist behind the workshops.

Who are you and what do you do?

I'm Kalma, visual artist working with video projections since 2007. I do light installations, mapping, vjing, interactive pieces, music videos and almost everything related with video in real time.

What hardware and software and other tools do you use?

My basic hardware equipment is a Macbookpro, a TASCAM soundcard, a bunch of MIDI controllers: 2 Nano Kontrols ( I prefer the version 1), 1 Nano PAD, a keyboard AKA LPK25, my beloved Behringer BCF2000... Also I have a DIY light sensor that I use to tranform light into sound. About software, depending on my necessities I use Madmapper, VDMX, Lumen ( a great video sinth ! ), Modul8, Quartz Composer...

What are some of your recent VJing and mapping projects?

At the moment I'm working in a video work for Kaltès & Nene H. that will release an EP under Eotrax label. I'm using a 3D Kinect to scan a human body and VDMX to apply different effects in real time. It's dark, intense and very personal piece that is called Resist.

Also I'm developing my A/V installation Harmonic Waves. Until now it's been shown as a prototype in galleries and festivals but the plan is to build it in a big scale, allowing the viewers to walk in between the huge geometric shapes.

My last project was premiered last month. I collaborated with DINA 13 a dance company from Cologne that work with people with disabilities ( and I learnt how much able they are! ) My work was to design the mapping on stage and perform live. I used Madmapper and VDMX and everything was incredibly smooth, even though I had 3 beamers playing HD content for the entire hour. Since then, I deeply love HAP codec ;)

Tell us about the workshops that you teach on VJ and 3D mapping techniques!

Beside my artistic career, I feel the necessity to share with others what I learn during my working processes. That's why I do these workshops where people learn, not only how to create a patch in VDMX or a mapping project with Madmapper but also all the indispensable technical abilities to face their first gigs: how to compress their footage, create their own content, use live cameras and MIDI controllers, using projector calculator and face the more common technical problems.

I use a very pedagogic and practical approach to bring the attendants as much tools as possible to allow them to continue with the learning process after the workshop. Two important keywords when I'm teaching are: motivation and inspiration . If I'm able to impregnate them with this two concepts, I consider my work a success.

The challenge for me to give each one what they need. That's why I don't exceed the maximum of 10 attendants. In this way I can focus of each necessities, beginner or not so beginner and adapt my program to their level.

I think the workshops are the perfect playground for someone who wants to explore the possibilities of live video projections and visual scenography using real time rendering and video mapping.

Make sure to check out the Kalma guest tutorial and if you are in Berlin her next workshop is coming up on October 24th 2017 in Berlin with sign up slots still available!