Giants of the Bodyless State
Video, 2023
About the artwork
Awareness — You, the dreamer, have an odd thought, a strong emotion, feel an unusual sensation, or have altered perceptions. The thought can be one that is peculiar, that could only occur in a dream, or that "magically" affects the
dream world. The emotion can be inappropriate or oddly overwhelming. Sensations can include the feeling of paralysis, or of leaving your body, as well as unusual physical feelings, and sexual arousal. Perceptions may be unusually clear or fuzzy, or something impossible to perceive in ordinary life.
Action — You, a dream character, or a dream thing (including inanimate objects and animals) does something unusual or impossible in waking life. Malfunctioning devices are common examples of this category.
Form — Your shape, the shape of a dream character, or of a dream object is oddly formed, deformed, or transforms in an unlikely or impossible manner. Also the place you are in the dream (the setting) may have different features than it would in waking life.
Context — The place or situation you are in in the dream is strange. You may be somewhere that you are unlikely to be in waking life, or involved in a strange social situation. Also, you or another dream character could be playing a role different from in waking life. Objects or characters may be out of place, or the dream could occur at some other time—in the past or future. AI generated video created in collaboration with touch designer, Adobe After Effects, Midjourney, Runway ML, Potensic dreamer PRO 4K Drone, Topaz Labs video AI.
Original musical composition recorded to tape and mixed in Ableton live by Chris Royal King.
Audio explanation
Listen to Chris Royal King discuss this work.
Christopher Royal King, a multidisciplinary artist anchored in Los Angeles, California, is known for being the founding member and composer of the cinematic rock ensemble, This Will Destroy You. King's creative prowess extends to crafting musical scores that transcend diverse environments, from the Michelin-awarded restaurant Vespertine to Oscar-winning films.
His compositions have resonated globally, serving as the opening music for events as diverse as the Olympics in China, Climate Resolve in Switzerland, and U.S. Pentagon briefings on natural disasters. He holds a double BFA in communication design and philosophy from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Texas State University. Over the past two decades, he has developed as an art director, senior visual designer, and video/sound editor and has showcased his artistic practice in galleries across the globe.
The breadth of King's commercial visual art is equally impressive, ranging from award-winning record packaging for the music group Deftones to crafting promotional animations for the renowned network Adult Swim. Through these diverse creative endeavors, Christopher Royal King emerges not only a sonic architect but also as a visual storyteller.