From 2010 to 2016, I was a member of PIPS:lab, the pioneering Dutch multimedia performance collective known for thier playful and irreverent approach to technology, performance, and audience interaction.

PIPS:lab emerged from Amsterdam’s underground party scene and went on to shape a unique genre of live multimedia performance—merging theatre, music, film, real-time video, and interactive media. The collective is known for its commitment to “unstable media,” and its productions thrive on technological unpredictability, audience participation, and a sharp sense of humour.

At PIPS:lab, limitations are embraced as creative catalysts. Every production adheres to a series of self-imposed rules: shows must mix multiple art forms, include real-time audience interaction, blur the line between fiction and reality, and use only live-recorded material. High-tech tools are intentionally exposed and stripped of polish—cables, screens, and sensors are part of the aesthetic, not hidden away.

PIPS:lab is fully self-sufficient. All shows and installations are developed in-house, from the software and hardware to the music, scripts, and visuals. During my time with the group, I contributed across the entire pipeline: building custom hardware and interactive systems, developing original software, designing workflows, handling post-production, and performing on stage.

The group’s work includes a wide range of productions and installations that push the boundaries of digital performance, and I continue to draw on the tools, techniques, and spirit of experimentation we developed during that time.

Below is a clip of PIPS:Lab at TEDxAmsterdam performing an excerpt of the show Diespace.