IIC – International Internal Catastrophes is an Audio-Visual project by Novi_sad + Isaac Niemand. In this project, they develop a visceral, dense and profound Optico-Sonic framework, through which they are triggering the inner senses and enhancing the evolution/development of a rare cultural ostentation, built on mythical crescendos, slow motion deliriums, overwhelming visual energy, hyper-beauty, elegance; and of course, tension.

IIC transforms interpretation into experience, one that the audience is sensing rather than viewing/listening, one that makes them sweat rather than look/hear.

IIC fosters dissonant elements, tempered by emphasis on layered exaggerations, which are capable of causing acutely synaesthetic reactions. Multi-layered epic abstract soundscapes, delighted with elegiac optical nuances and the profound sequential exploration of the notion of the terms ”collapse-rebuild-isolate-take off…” and so on, are the core, generative and fundamental force of this project. Amalgamated with entirely unique dynamics, IIC is immersive, outrageous and extreme in its approach on the geometrical construction and demonstration of the composed sounds and visual parts.

Novi_sad is the guise for Thanasis Kaproulias (b. 1980) who holds a degree from the Economic University of Piraues. He lives and works in Ancient Olympia, Greece. Influenced by the pioneers of audio assault, he began generating sounds in 2005. Amplified environmental recordings, drone manipulations, structured ambient soundscapes, microtones vs overtones, all come together in a hyper structure of iconoclastic form. Novi_sad’s artistic output displays a high level of technical ability, as well as a sensitivity to the nuances of location. The strength of his soundscapes works in the same elaborateness for the whole creation process, starting from a basis of very strong conceptualism, the intense examination of field recordings over the actual composition work, to the point of performing back the result onto location. Every sound that occurs is treated with a sculptural integrity and his sonic power operates on a level in which the audience participates as transcendental listeners. His approach is similar to the 'cinema pour l'oreille' (cinema for the ear) and in turn would like to ‘donner à voir’ (lead to seeing) by means of sound. Being immersed in his sonic environment offers an absolutely visceral and cerebral experience at once. Novi_sad explores sound as sensation pulling apart its physical properties to reveal its relationship with human perception. Some of his projects are primarily focused in architectural acoustics and the relationship between architecture and sound, when other projects are based on various methods of audio analysis in extremely unique recordings and the use of quantitative and numerical data from different sources (NASA among others). His vertiginous structures destruct and reconstruct architectonic, organic and sentimental abstractions with precision and hypnotic beauty, which functions as a gateway onto eternity. His music has been described as ‘a complete surrendering of the senses’. Novi_sad’s albums found plenty of receptive ears, receiving glowing reviews in music media around the world. His audio works are available from esteemed labels such as raster [DE], Sedimental [U.S.A.], Touch [U.K.], Staalplaat [NL] and Sub Rosa [BE]. Novi_sad’s projects have been presented in various forms in cinemas, industrial spaces, theatres, concert halls, churches, museums, auditoriums, squats, galleries, in festivals like Venice Biennale Film Festival [Venice], MUTEK [Montreal/Mexico City], Lunchmeat [Prague], Eletronika [Belo Horizonte], FIMAV [Victoriaville], Transient [Paris], Gray Area [San Francisco], L.E.V. [Gijon], PRECTXE [Seoul], Stimul [Prague] and in such spaces as: Roy O. Disney Concert Hall CalArts [Los Angeles], VPRO National Radio [Amsterdam], Cabaret Voltaire [Zurich], Itaú Cultural [São Paulo], Museum of Contemporary Art [Roskilde], Megaron/The Athens Concert Hall [Athens], Haus der Kulturen der Welt [Berlin], National Gallery [Prague], The Chapel [Seattle], B39 [Seoul], Oi Futuro Flamengo [Rio de Janeiro], EMPAC [New York], Remai Modern Museum [Saskatoon], National Center for Contemporary Arts [Moscow], KW/Institute for Contemporary Art [Berlin], Wood Street Galleries [Pittsburgh], Fondazione Culturale San Fedele [Milan], The Lowry [Salford Quays], Museum für Gestaltung [Zurich], Vancouver New Music [Vancouver], Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ [Amsterdam], Le Fresnoy/Studio National D'Arts Contemporains [Tourcoing], National Academy of Music [Aarhus], Einstein Kulturzentrum [Munich], Sesc Pompeia [São Paulo], MAM/Museum of Modern Art [Rio de Janeiro] and he has been a guest lecturer at universities such as ICST/Zurich University of the Arts [Zurich], USP/University of São Paulo [São Paulo], The Royal Academy of Music [Aarhus], CAAV/Universidad de Medios Audiovisuales [Guadalajara], Tama Art University [Tokyo] a.o. Novi_sad has worked and collaborated with: Lars von Trier, Helge Sten [Deathprod, Supersilent], Francisco López, Mika Vainio [Pan Sonic], Ryoichi Kurokawa, Daniel Menche, Richard Chartier, Carl Michael von Hausswolff, Jacob Kirkegaard, Rebecca Foon [A Silver Mt. Zion, Set fire to flames], BJ Nilsen, Scott Konzelmann, Irini Kyriakidou, Karl Lemieux, Konstantina Kotzamani, Isaac Niemand and Yorgos Zois. Thanasis Kaproulias is the General + Artistic director of Hertz Festival.