- A night of audiovisual art and hard-edged electronic music in Rotterdam.
- "Looking for the entrance?" I asked two flustered-looking guys who were desperately trying to decode their Google Maps. I, too, was confused, having passed the hidden venue twice already, searching in vain for a sign that read "Pink Pank." Eventually, a friendly face pointed me in the right direction. I was expecting to enter a world of pretentious artsy people and complicated social dynamics, but the highly anticipated and sold-out sixth edition of Klankvorm delivered the total opposite: a warm bath of musical and visual experimentation.
Pink Pank, a small club that was once an old Freemasons lodge, had a no-nonsense vibe from the get-go, thanks in part to the laid-back crowd. Even though I don't smoke, it was the smoking area that I was first drawn to, maybe because the DIY-style bar was conveniently situated there. The party didn't seem to be for a specific crowd other than the curious-minded. "I'm on a musical journey and this is my first stop," said a guy by the bar. I knew what he meant.
In the main space, which you entered through a dark hallway closed off by heavy black curtains, people were scattered around the booth in a perfect half-moon shape. Back in the day, the room was where the Freemasons congregated to perform their rituals, but tonight it was full people from all walks of life. Some stood with their eyes closed and some rocked back and forth as they tuned in to Fawkes, who was stitching together a seamless narrative of glitchy electronics wrapped in goth-like vocals. Usually, you can navigate through the club using the dozens of lit-up phones as markers, but there didn't seem to be any place for them here, creating instead a sea of shadowed faces and moving silhouettes. The only reference points were the hypnotizing visuals projected onto a massive screen by Co2RO, Diffraction and Jeisson Drenth.
The night's turning point came with the UK artist Metrist. Somewhere in between raw, bassy techno kicks and a ruthless remix of Mr Vegas's dancehall classic "Heads High," the dance floor set alight. This was followed by a powerful audiovisual performance from Bas van Koolwijk and a banging noise techno set from Samuel Kerridge. There was plenty of space to dance and move freely.
Events like these are known for their flickering lights, the occasional sounds of static or white noise and basslines that make the dance floor vibrate. But more than that, they're about the people who cover their ears, mystified, without leaving the dance floor, fully immersing themselves in the experience and opening their minds to the unknown, regardless of the temporary discomfort. Klankvorm appears to have found the sweet spot where both connoisseurs and casual listeners can explore the forefronts of audiovisual art and hard-edged electronic music in perfect harmony.
Photo credit /
Jaap Beyleveld