Peter Missotten trained as a video artist. Alongside a career as a media artist, he has worked in and around theatrical spaces all his life - starting as a lighting designer for 'The Cement Garden' in 1983. This was the beginning of a long collaboration as stage, video & light designer for Guy Cassiers, which lasted for about 25 years ('Wasp Factory', 'Sunken Red', 'Rage d'Amour', 'The Flying Dutchman', 'The Woman who fell into Doors', 'Onegin'... to name but a few).
His work focuses on the disruptive power of technology on humanity. By embracing these digital technologies, he creates uncanny intermediate performances and installations that question our grip on the speed of technology. Who's in control?
Throughout his career, he has used his network and expertise to mentor younger artists - designers as well as media and performance artists.
His work focusses on the shattering power of technology on humanity. By embracing these digital technologies, he creates uncanny, intermediate performances and installations that questions our grip on the speed of technology. Who's in control?
Throughout his career, he uses his network and expertise to coach younger artists - designers as well as media and performance artists.
In 1994, together with Anne Quirynen and Anne Heyman, he founded the Filmfabriek: A company dealing with the crossover between digital and performance art. They worked intensively on projects with artists such as William Forsythe, Wim Vandekeybus, Guy Cassiers and Georges Aperghis. Over the years they were joined by artists such as Wies Hermans, Bram Smeyers, Kurt d'Haeseleer and Ief Spincemaille. They produced a number of experimental digital feature films, such as 'The Way of the Weed', and worked as a graphic design company for numerous art companies, such as the Blindman Quartet, Laika, Needcompany, SACD, ro theatre, Museum of Breda, etc. Meanwhile, Peter Missotten continued to work as a set, video and lighting designer for a wide range of projects.
From 2000 on, Peter Missotten developed from a designer to a director for performance art and opera productions. From 2006-2010 he worked as director and designer at the Toneelhuis (Antwerp, Belgium). His first production 'Quartett' by Heiner Müller was co-produced by the Schauspielhaus in Vienna. His adaptation of 'The Waste Land' by T.S. Eliot was selected for the Holland Festival 2008.
In 2009 he directed the world premiere of 'KEPLER', an opera by Philip Glass for Linz09 at the Landestheater Linz (Austria), as always with his own stage, video and lighting design. In 2010 he created 'MONTEZUMA - FALLENDER ADLER', an opera by Bernhard Lang, for the Nationaltheater Mannheim (D). He has designed the set and lighting for several choreographies, including 'The New Factory' by Guilherme Miotto and Michael Schumacher for Dansgroep Amsterdam.
He developed a visual, performance-based libretto for 'THE GOLEM', a new opera by Bernhard Lang, which he staged (direction, video, lighting and set design) for the Nationaltheater Mannheim in 2016.
He has a
Master's degree in Visual Arts (LUCA School of Arts Brussels) and has a masterclass degree in Cultural Management (University of Antwerp)
He taught
performance art at the Toneelacademie Maastricht for almost 20 years (2003-22) and is
head of the Technology Driven Art research group at Zuyd University (NL).
This site provides some highlights of his extensive career as an artist.
For his work as head of the Technology Driven Art research group at Zuyd University (Maastricht NL), please visit technologydrivenart.org…foto © Moniek Wegdam 2015 