Lord of the Flies set in a toxic post apocalyptic NYC. The first section where they twitch their heads, carrying that one dancer who crawls like a deformed creature. NYC dance on the flexin tip. Bone breakin. Next Level Squad. Video by Yak Films.

When it comes to video projection installations, AntiVJ are pretty far ahead of most of the world with only a few exceptions. They make giant sculptures come to life, allow viewers to enter inside columns of shifting white light, conjure holographic screens of color, and more. Of course, they’re a European collective, leaving most Americans to gawk at internet videos or maybe once a year catch some corporatized version of similar engineering. However, the group’s director, Joanie Lemercier, is here in New York right now. He’s responsible for the video above, which features a room-sized 3D topographical map that dips and glows with the depth of a master painting come to life. Currently, one of his works is on display in Brooklyn at the Muriel Guepin Gallery until April 15th. You can also catch him speaking next Thursday in Chelsea at Eyebeam.

The intersection of projection art, music, architecture and graffiti is a place that this Polish team is turning into a welcome destination. Nawer vs Temporary Space Design is the pairing of projection mapping VJs with a graffiti writer to become immersive installation artists. The project featured in the above video is exemplary of their approach, where Nawer paints an abstract design that TSD brings to life with 3D mapping and an element of audio responsiveness. Although there is a number of interesting moments throughout, the highlight of the piece comes at about 4:35 when each abstract shape flickers with multiple complementary colors. Nawer has proven their adeptness at transforming spaces with nothing but paint, including the playground below. But with the addition of TSD, they manage to compete with television for a society long saturated by all-encompasing media.

Voyeur after voyeur is revealed in this work by video artist Morgan Beringer, which climbs through an endless wormhole of classically painted windows. He usually creates pieces that deal with more abstract imagery, which could easily be used as VJ material and would look great in the club. But Beringer frequently incorporates earthy and organic color schemes and textures – a departure from the prevailing techy tone found in the majority of VJ content. The artist also recently collaborated with Ghostly to supply a Matthew Dear song with powerful imagery.

Hardbody stop animation by Travis Czekalski, featuring the beats of Flying Lotus, namely “Pickled!”. (Via Wooster Collective.)

Bangin’ new augmented light sculpture by Grosse8 and Lichtfront. Projectors shed light onto this wooden sculpture, making it come alive with color. Set to a nasty beat by Jon Hopkins, who we will keep our eye on from now on. (via Core77).

Using Predator-like drones, private military contractors remotely defend water reserves in Mexico from drought stricken locals to a soundtrack by Nacional Records. This all-too-possible near future set to a nasty beat is the vision of Sleep Dealer, a Spanish language science fiction film written and directed by Alex Rivera.

It premiered in NYC last April, which makes it ancient in internet time, but we had to post something about it. The thoughtfulness of Rivera, who resides in New York and first filmed the Sixth Section documentary for PBS, charts the genre into unlikely territory. By addressing current political and environmental issues, he grounds it in reality. And he avoids diving into fantasy by exploring technology that seems probable in the near future and in need of serious discussion. All this brings the movie closer to social commentary than mere entertainment.

As for the soundtrack, it features a number of good songs that have since been released for free in one form or another. Bomba Estereo‘s “Raza” made its psychedelic Cumbia debut here. It’s since been released as an MPFree over at NYRemezcla (hastily compiled English translation after the jump). The album also included the Latin dub stylings of Fidel Nadal‘s “Puerta De Oro (Con Pablo Lescano)”. That was more recently part of the free Nacional Records Sampler 2009. Nortec Collective‘s “Tijuana Sound Machine” and “Discoteca Nacional” were also on the soundtrack.

Race (Raza) – Bomba Estereo (lyrics translated to English)

Race…

If you ask yourself where it came from
If half from the sea
If half from the river
I like singing to my friends
Sing to the wind, to the heat and the cold
To reach you I would love to
(My) political stance: undefined
(My) relationship status: stable and single
(My) perfect drink: cold beer, hey!

And my speech is not very easy and it’s not written down
But whoever wants to know, I’ll explain it
I multiply with the percussion
I ring and ring that’s why I criticize you
I’m not a fan of protest
However, I respect your project
It’s just that kind of analysis which sometimes stinks
That you complain and don’t do anything is what bugs me

And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
From deep within the heart
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore

I was not born a rasta, no
And I’ll say that upfront
But I grew up in the sea
Very close to the people
With the sun strong at 2:20
When the sweat gets hot
And sometimes I complain about the president
About dumb women, about the smart ones
I don’t want to sing to those who are absent
I want to sing to those who are present

I don’t have a valid visa or passport
But I want my music to reach other continents
Those who speak English
Those who don’t understand it
If I can’t travel let the music try to
Hot, upfront, so that it explodes
Yes! This music is for intelligent people For Bogota and for Baranquilla
I like cumbia because it is simple listennn!
Because it’s simple listennn!
Because it’s simple listennn!

And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
From deep within the heart
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
That’s the way my race is
That’s the way my folklore is
(My race) And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And this is the music that I sing

So you like Rock
I like Santa Marta’s, yeah!
Oh, for my neighborhood

Listen, man
This is the house
This is the house
When you want to come on by

And that’s the way my race is
And that’s the way my race is
And that’s the way my race is
And that’s the way my race is

(Thanks to Ricardo for transcribing this.)

Eye candy. Starring a surreal sepia New York and a burning piano. By Jeff Desom. (via Caslon Projects)

(Via Gradient Magazine)