South KoreaOutcome summary
For the 15th Jarasum International Jazz Festival in October 2018 we planned and built the Floating Piano. The river was the stage: a pianist and singer played live jazz on an LED piano while the lights and the boat were remote controlled. The road version we derived from it has since travelled to other festivals.
Starting situation
For the 15th Jarasum International Jazz Festival, held in Gapyeong in October 2018, we planned a special event: a piano that plays on the river, with the Jarasum river as the stage.
The system
The Floating Piano, also shown as the Moving Piano, is a piano wrapped in LED light, on a boat. The lights and the movement of the boat are remote controlled. We built it ourselves, in our own firm, as a piece of engineering and art together.
Results and evidence
The Floating Piano had its world premiere on the Jarasum river on 13 October 2018, at the 15th Jarasum International Jazz Festival. Jazz singer and pianist Yoon Kyoung-a played live, bringing something magic and romantic to Jarasum Island. The premiere ran from 18:35 to 18:50, and a replica followed in the evening, from 21:35 to 22:00.
After launch
From the boat version we derived a road version, with a real dancer and different pianists. It has been taken to other festivals:
- 2019: the “Music Box” version, opening performance, Let’s Run Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Gwacheon (“Floating Piano Music Box”)
- 2020: Gwangju International Street Festival, parade performance (“Floating Piano Music Box”)
- 2021: Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival, together with the puppet Cuore
