ORPHEUS
A collaboration with Robert Bolton a.k.a. Arowbe and Andrew Zealley.
Project Details:
∙ Location: TEDx Toronto
∙ Duration: Live Performance Series
∙ Series: Intersections & Mythological Reimaginings
∙ Aesthetic: A generative and digital performance combining sumi-inked illustrations, spoken word, and atmospheric soundscapes.
Overview & Synopsis
Orpheus is a multidisciplinary performance piece originally created by Robert Bolton and Eric Chan (EEPMON) for the Vancouver Art Gallery’s KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art exhibition (May 17th – September 7th, 2008).
Named after the mythical Greek musician who could charm all living things and navigate the underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice, the collaboration reimagines the Orpheus myth through a modern digital lens. On September 30th, 2010, the project was resurfaced for TEDx Toronto, featuring entirely new illustrations and the addition of musical soundscapes composed by Andrew Zealley.
Key Elements of the Collaboration
Intersection of Art & Technology: The project seamlessly combines EEPMON’s signature style—blending hand-drawn sumi ink illustrations, digital graphics, and generative algorithms—with Robert Bolton’s expertise in design futures, interactive experiences, and spoken word text.
Thematic Narrative: Inspired by the themes of loss, search, resonance, and transformation from the original Orpheus myth, the performance reflects on human emotional connections within increasingly synthetic and digital environments.
Multidisciplinary Execution: Rather than remaining a static visual piece, Orpheus unfolds as a live, immersive dialogue between light, code, and sound. Over 100 illustrations were created, composed, and programmed exclusively for the performance; controlled via keyboard, they trigger in tandem with Robert Bolton’s spoken word text and Andrew Zealley’s ambient compositions.
