ELECTRONIC LANDSCAPE
Scenography | Spring 2021
Professor: Antoine Barrot
Electronic Landscape is a scenography project inspired by Andy Stott's electronic music piece Hatch the Plan. The main concept was to translate the music into a physical environment, drawing inspiration from Estonian folklore, pagan traditions, and the relationship between nature and spirituality.
Although Estonia is one of the least religious countries in the world, many old beliefs and traditions remain present in Estonian culture. Nature has always played an important role in these traditions, particularly sacred trees and groves, known as hiis, which were historically used as places of worship and offerings to nature gods.
The central element of the stage is a large tree, representing a sacred place where nature, music, and spirituality come together. The surrounding landscape is filled with smaller elements inspired by Estonian mythology, including flickering lights representing virvatulukesed, or will-o'-the-wisps, mysterious lights believed to appear in bogs and marshes, either guiding travelers to safety or leading them astray.
Bees are another important symbol in the installation, representing guidance and protection. The white honeycomb structures create a contrast with the natural landscape, symbolizing purity, safety, and the connection between old traditions and the modern world.
The lighting plays an important role throughout the performance, responding to the changing sounds and rhythms of the music. Flickering lights, shadows, and the surrounding landscape work together to create a mystical and slightly unsettling atmosphere.
The goal was to create a stage that feels almost like a living landscape, where music, light, and nature come together to tell a story without the need for performers or dialogue.