SUFJAN STEVENS, THE AGE OF ADZ
“Immediately, this show was a visual spectacle, inspired by and paying homage to the space age folk art of
American painter Royal Robertson.
But at its heart were the songs from The Age of Adz, which, like Dark Side of the Moon, is about the deeply personal — madness, conflict, lunacy — with music that sounds on the verge of a nervous breakdown. And in that chaos, in that conflict, are moments of resolve … in a concert filled with joy, beauty, heart, and triumph — but also beach balls, rousing choreography, some of the best multimedia I’ve seen, and extravagant pageantry.” – Bob Boilen, NPR
Music Videos and Promo
Several of the visuals were released as official music videos for Asthmatic Kitty, along with an official tour promotional reel for the final performance at the Brooklyn Bandshell in 2011.
Description
Visual design for Sufjan Stevens' The Age of Adz, inspired by the late artist and
self-proclaimed prophet Royal Robertson.
The project featured a monolithic temple-like trapezoid backdrop, a giant diamond, and a translucent scrim, creating a three-dimensional experience with graphics and light enveloping the band. This work brought to life the themes of mythology, UFOs, and space monsters.
We used the game platform Unity for immersive world-building based on Royal's inner universe and Quartz Composer for real-time, audio-reactive elements, enhancing the concert's "liveness." The multi-screen set featured a large, temple-like trapezoid backdrop, a giant diamond, and a translucent scrim. The visuals were mapped and performed live using the VJ platform VDMX, creating an immersive, multi-dimensional, and responsive experience that enveloped the band in graphics and light. This design dynamically illustrated the album's concept and story arc: an apocalyptic space rock opera promising hope and redemption.
Production Credits:
Creative Direction: Sufjan Stevens
Visual Design + Performance: Deborah Johnson
Unity + VDMX Programming:
Brian Chasalow and Anton Martini
Lighting Design: Ben Stanton
Set Design: Adrian Jones
Technical Direction: Josh Higgason
Fabrication: Daedalus