61st Venice Biennale  ·  In Minor Keys  ·  Curated by Koyo Kouoh

Whispering
in Three Movements

A multi-sensory cinematic performance by KaMag — Kamaal Malak & María Magdalena Campos-Pons

OpeningMay 9, 2026 VenueArsenale, Venice DurationMay – July 2026 MediumMusic · Painting · Scent · Frequency
About the Performance

Where Sound Becomes Color,
Color Becomes Breath

Whispering in Three Movements is a multi-sensory performance installation that dissolves the boundaries between music, visual art, aromatherapy, and neural frequency therapy. Created by KaMag — the collaborative identity of bassist and audio architect Kamaal Malak and MacArthur Fellow and visual artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons — the work unfolds across three immersive movements inside the Arsenale at the 61st Venice Biennale.


Presented within Koyo Kouoh's curatorial framework In Minor Keys, which invites "listening to the persistent signals of earth and life, connecting to soul frequencies," this performance merges live bass performance, real-time painting, diffused botanical essences, and 40 Hz gamma wave entrainment into a single unified field of sensation — delivered through 4K LED walls driven by Resolume 7, with cinematic content generated through Google Gemini and Google VEO.

Kamaal Malak

Bassist · Audio Architect · Composer

Former member of the 2x Grammy Award-winning Arrested Development. Lecturer and artist-in-residence at Vanderbilt University. Founder of KM Entertainment. Kamaal's practice bridges sonic branding, neuroscience-informed audio, and immersive installation, with 40 Hz gamma wave entrainment at the center of his research.

María Magdalena Campos-Pons

Visual Artist · MacArthur Fellow

Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair of Fine Arts. Her multidisciplinary practice spans performance, photography, painting, sculpture, film, and installation, drawing from Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions, diaspora narratives, and the poetics of the body. Exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Documenta, the Smithsonian, and the Tate.

The Three Movements

Structure of the Performance

I

Emergence

Sound Scent 40Hz

The space begins in darkness and silence. A sub-bass drone at 40 Hz rises imperceptibly — felt before heard — as diffusers release vetiver and sea salt essences evoking Cuban coastlines and ancestral memory. Kamaal introduces solo bass harmonics that mirror the gamma wave frequency, while the LED walls slowly illuminate with deep indigo and bioluminescent particle fields generated through Google VEO. The audience is drawn into a meditative threshold state, suspended between waking and dream.

II

Communion

Painting Sound Scent

Magdalena enters the performance field and begins painting live on translucent surfaces, her gestures captured by overhead cameras and projected in real-time across the LED walls through Resolume 7, layered with AI-generated volumetric environments from Google Gemini. The bass shifts into melodic, conversational phrases — a dialogue between brushstroke and bassline. Rose and frankincense replace the opening scents. Color erupts: amber, magenta, gold. The walls breathe with the painting.

III

Transcendence

40Hz Visual Sound Scent

All elements converge. The 40 Hz gamma entrainment reaches full synchronization across audio and visual channels — the LED walls pulse in phase with the bass frequencies, Magdalena's painted imagery dissolves into neural-network visualizations of synaptic firing patterns, and the scent transitions to cedar and white sage. The performance ascends toward a collective sensory crescendo before slowly receding into stillness. The last thing the audience perceives is the whisper of frequency — the residual hum of shared consciousness.

Radical Love is not sentiment — it is architecture. It is the frequency at which separate bodies begin to resonate as one.
KaMag — Guiding Philosophy
Google VEO & Gemini Production Prompts

Cinematic Content Generation

Each movement requires dedicated visual content generated through Google VEO for pre-rendered cinematic sequences and Google Gemini 3.1 for real-time generative overlays. Below are the production prompts organized by movement and technical function.

Movement I — Emergence: Deep Ocean Particle Field

Google VEO
You are a visionary film director creating immersive art for the Venice Biennale. Generate a cinematic 4K slow-motion sequence of bioluminescent particles drifting through an infinite dark ocean. Microscopic organisms pulse with deep indigo and violet light at a rhythm of exactly 40 beats per minute, synchronized to a meditative heartbeat. Camera moves with weightless, zero-gravity Steadicam drift — infinitely slow forward tracking through the particle field. Depth of field shifts between extreme macro (individual organisms filling the frame) and vast cosmic pullbacks revealing constellations of light. Volumetric fog and caustic light refractions create depth. The tone is sacred and primordial — think Terrence Malick's Tree of Life underwater sequences meets teamLab's infinity rooms. Paced for a 120-second seamless loop. Color palette restricted to: deep indigo (#1a1a4e), bioluminescent cyan (#4a9e8f), and faint gold (#c9a84c) accents. Output in 4K 60fps, photorealistic 3D, aspect ratio 32:9 for ultrawide LED wall deployment.
Deploy as Resolume Layer 1 — base ambient field. Set blend mode to Screen. Loop duration: 120s.

Movement I — Emergence: Neural Pathway Awakening

Google VEO
You are a documentary filmmaker merging neuroscience with cinematic poetry. Create a 4K 3D fly-through inside a dormant neural network that slowly awakens. Camera enters through dark, translucent axon bundles — myelin sheaths are barely visible, like glass tubes in fog. At exactly 15 seconds, a single pulse of golden light travels along one axon, triggering a synaptic burst. The chain reaction spreads slowly across the network. Each synapse fires with a warm amber flash synchronized to 40Hz flicker timing (each flash lasting exactly 12.5 milliseconds with 12.5ms dark interval). Camera uses elegant crane movements pulling back to reveal the expanding network. Colors transition from deep midnight blue to warm neural gold. Volumetric god rays filter through translucent tissue. The tone is wonder and emergence — think the overview effect rendered at the cellular scale. Duration: 60 seconds. Output in 4K 60fps photorealistic 3D, 32:9 ultrawide aspect ratio.
Deploy as Resolume Layer 2 — overlay on particle field. Triggered via MIDI from Kamaal's bass at first harmonic entrance. Blend mode: Add.

Movement II — Communion: Living Canvas Environment

Google Gemini 3.1 · Real-Time
SYSTEM PROMPT FOR GEMINI 3.1 REAL-TIME GENERATION: You are a visual AI collaborator working live during a performance at the Venice Biennale. You will receive a continuous video feed of an artist painting on translucent surfaces. Your task: interpret each brushstroke and color gesture as environmental architecture. When the artist applies warm pigments (reds, ambers, golds), generate expanding volumetric spaces — cathedral interiors, sunset cloud formations, volcanic amber caverns. When cool pigments appear (blues, violets, greens), generate oceanic depths, aurora borealis fields, crystalline grottos. Match the energy and velocity of the brushstrokes — fast gestural marks produce dynamic camera movements and particle explosions; slow deliberate strokes produce contemplative architectural reveals. Maintain a 32:9 ultrawide output at 4K resolution. All generated environments should feel physically inhabitable — cinematic depth, volumetric lighting, atmospheric haze. Color palette must always extend from the actual paint colors captured on camera. Latency target: under 200ms from brushstroke to environmental response.
Feed live camera input via NDI into Gemini API. Output routed through Resolume Layer 3 as Syphon source. Magdalena's painting drives the generative environment in real-time.

Movement II — Communion: Ancestral Water Memory

Google VEO
You are a Hollywood cinematographer creating visuals for an Afro-Cuban spiritual ceremony translated into abstract cinema. Generate a 4K sequence of water — sacred, ancient, alive. Begin with a perfectly still surface reflecting golden light from below. Slowly, ripples emerge from the center, each ring carrying traces of pigment — ochre, crimson, indigo — as if paint is dissolving into ancestral waters. The camera descends through the surface into an underwater cathedral of suspended paint clouds. Fluid dynamics are hyperrealistic — pigment tendrils curl and spiral in slow motion with the precision of ink-in-water macro photography. Deep amber light radiates from below while cool blue light filters from above. The tone is devotional — think the intimacy of Bill Viola's water works merged with the scale of Emmanuel Lubezki's natural light cinematography. Duration: 90 seconds seamless loop. Output 4K 60fps, 32:9 ultrawide.
Deploy as Resolume Layer 2 during Movement II. Blend with live camera feed of Magdalena's painting via Luma key. Opacity modulated by audio reactivity from bass frequencies.

Movement III — Transcendence: Gamma Synchronization Field

Google VEO
You are a director creating the climactic visual sequence for an immersive multisensory performance. Generate a 4K sequence that visualizes collective neural synchronization. Begin with thousands of individual light points scattered randomly across a vast dark space — each pulsing at slightly different rhythms. Over 30 seconds, the points slowly align their flicker patterns until all pulse in perfect unison at exactly 40Hz (visible as coordinated brightness oscillation). As synchronization completes, the individual points reveal themselves as nodes in an enormous interconnected web — golden filaments stretching between them like a cosmic nervous system. Camera performs a sweeping orbital crane shot pulling from intimate close-up of a single node outward to reveal the full unified network. Colors: individual nodes shift from cool isolation blues through warm amber to radiant collective gold. Volumetric light beams connect synchronized clusters. The tone is euphoric and transcendent — the visual equivalent of a musical crescendo resolving into a major chord. Duration: 60 seconds. Output 4K 60fps, 32:9 ultrawide.
Deploy as Resolume Layer 1 for Movement III climax. 40Hz visual flicker must be calibrated with photosensitivity safety limits — implement 3% maximum contrast modulation as per OFCOM guidelines. Synchronize with Kamaal's bass via MIDI clock.

Movement III — Transcendence: Dissolution and Stillness

Google VEO
You are a contemplative filmmaker creating the final image of a sacred ceremony. Generate a 4K sequence showing a vast golden neural network slowly dissolving into pure warm light. The intricate web of connections softens — edges blur, filaments become luminous fog. The camera drifts imperceptibly backward as detail gives way to abstraction. What was a complex network becomes a single field of breathing golden light that slowly dims to amber, then deep indigo, then near-darkness — punctuated by the faintest occasional spark, like the last embers of a fire. The final 20 seconds should approach total stillness — a dark field with only the subtlest warmth remaining. Camera is perfectly still. The tone is aftermath and peace — the silence after music. Duration: 90 seconds. Output 4K 60fps, 32:9 ultrawide.
Deploy as final Resolume sequence. Crossfade from Gamma Synchronization Field over 10 seconds. Audio fades to sub-bass 40Hz drone only, then silence. LED walls dim to 5% brightness on final frame.
Production Pipeline

From Generation to LED Wall

The complete production workflow spans content generation, post-processing, Resolume configuration, and live performance integration. Every element is designed for the 32:9 ultrawide LED wall configuration at the Arsenale.

1

Content Generation

Google VEO Google Gemini 3.1

Pre-render all VEO sequences at 4K 60fps in 32:9 aspect ratio (7680×2160 pixels). Export as ProRes 4444 for maximum quality and alpha channel support. For real-time Gemini generation, configure the API pipeline with NDI camera input and Syphon output targeting under 200ms latency.

2

Post-Production & Color Grading

DaVinci Resolve After Effects

Grade all VEO outputs for LED wall color space. Apply photosensitivity safety limiters to any 40Hz flicker content — maximum 3% contrast modulation. Create seamless loop points for all ambient sequences. Export final masters as HAP codec files for optimal Resolume playback performance.

3

Resolume 7 Arena Configuration

Resolume Arena 7 Advanced Output

Configure composition at 7680×2160 (32:9). Create three output slices mapped to the triptych LED wall layout: Left Panel (1920×2160), Center Panel (3840×2160), Right Panel (1920×2160). In Output Transformation, map slices to match LED processor input expectations. Set up layer routing: Layer 1 for ambient base, Layer 2 for VEO overlays, Layer 3 for live camera/Gemini Syphon feed, Layer 4 for 40Hz entrainment pulse overlay.

4

MIDI & Audio Integration

MIDI OSC Ableton Live

Route Kamaal's bass signal through Ableton Live for MIDI note-to-CC conversion. Map bass frequency data to Resolume parameters: low frequency energy drives Layer 2 opacity and blend transitions, note triggers cue clip changes between movements, and envelope followers modulate Gemini prompt intensity during Movement II. Clock sync via MIDI to ensure 40Hz visual pulse locks to audio.

5

Scent Synchronization

DMX Aromatherapy Diffusers

Program DMX-controlled scent diffusers to transition between movement-specific essential oil blends: Movement I (vetiver + sea salt), Movement II (rose + frankincense), Movement III (cedar + white sage). Trigger scent changes via Resolume's DMX output on movement transitions, with 30-second overlap crossfades to prevent abrupt olfactory shifts.

6

Live Performance & Rehearsal

Venice Arsenale Tech Rehearsal

Three-day technical rehearsal at the Arsenale prior to May 9 opening. Calibrate LED wall color response to venue ambient light. Test photosensitivity compliance in situ. Rehearse MIDI trigger timing between Kamaal's bass performance and visual cue points. Verify Gemini real-time latency with live camera feed from Magdalena's painting station. Final scent diffusion radius testing.

Resolume 7 Arena — LED Wall Configuration

Triptych Mapping Architecture

The LED wall installation is configured as a triptych — three panels forming an immersive 32:9 panoramic canvas. Resolume Arena 7's Advanced Output maps the composition to the LED processor's expected input layout, with each panel driven as an independent slice for maximum creative control.

LED Wall Stage Layout — Arsenale

Left Panel 1920 × 2160
Center Panel 3840 × 2160
Right Panel 1920 × 2160

Total composition: 7680 × 2160  ·  Resolume comp size matches total pixel count  ·  Output via 2× DisplayPort to NovaStar MCTRL4K processors

Resolume Step 1

Set Composition Size

Create new composition at 7680×2160. This matches the total pixel count of the three-panel LED wall. All content should be authored or scaled to this resolution.

Resolume Step 2

Configure Advanced Output

In Advanced Output, create three slices on the Output Transformation tab. Position Slice 1 (Left) at 0,0 sized 1920×2160. Slice 2 (Center) at 1920,0 sized 3840×2160. Slice 3 (Right) at 5760,0 sized 1920×2160. These must match your LED processor's expected pixel layout.

Resolume Step 3

Match Input Shape

Select all three slices, right-click, and choose "Match Output Shape." This ensures the input selection mirrors the physical LED layout. Position slices on the Input Selection tab to match the stage arrangement.

Resolume Step 4

Layer Routing

Configure four layers with dedicated functions: Layer 1 — Ambient Base (VEO loops), Layer 2 — Dynamic Overlays (VEO triggered sequences), Layer 3 — Live Feed (NDI camera + Gemini Syphon), Layer 4 — 40Hz Entrainment Overlay (safety-limited flicker). Use blend modes: Screen for Layer 2, Add for Layer 4.

Resolume Step 5

MIDI Mapping

Map MIDI CC from Ableton Live to Resolume parameters: CC1 → Layer 2 opacity, CC2 → clip trigger column advance (movement transitions), CC3 → Gemini prompt intensity scalar, CC4 → 40Hz overlay master opacity. Map MIDI notes for discrete cue triggers at movement boundaries.

Technical Specifications

Hardware & Software Stack

Playback System

  • Mac Studio M4 Ultra — primary Resolume engine
  • Mac Mini M4 Pro — Gemini API server + NDI bridge
  • Resolume Arena 7 — composition & output
  • 2× NovaStar MCTRL4K LED processors
  • DisplayPort 1.4 output (8K capable)

LED Wall

  • Configuration: Triptych (Left + Center + Right)
  • Total resolution: 7680 × 2160 pixels
  • Pixel pitch: 2.6mm indoor rated
  • Refresh rate: 3840Hz (supports 40Hz flicker)
  • Color depth: 16-bit per channel HDR

Audio System

  • Bass DI → Ableton Live → MIDI conversion
  • 40Hz sub-bass via dual 18" subwoofers
  • Spatial audio: L-ISA or d&b Soundscape
  • MIDI clock sync to Resolume
  • Safety limiter: 85dB SPL max sustained

AI Generation

  • Google VEO — pre-rendered 4K cinematic sequences
  • Google Gemini 3.1 — real-time generative overlays
  • NDI camera input for live painting capture
  • Syphon output to Resolume
  • Target latency: <200ms camera-to-wall

Scent System

  • DMX-controlled nebulizing diffusers × 6
  • Movement I: Vetiver + Sea Salt
  • Movement II: Rose + Frankincense
  • Movement III: Cedar + White Sage
  • 30-second crossfade transitions

Safety Protocols

  • 40Hz visual flicker: 3% max contrast modulation
  • OFCOM photosensitivity compliance verified
  • Audio SPL monitoring with brick-wall limiter
  • Scent allergen disclosure posted at entry
  • Emergency override: single button full blackout
In Minor Keys proposes a radical reconnection with art's natural habitat and role in society — the emotional, the visual, the sensory, the affective, the subjective.
Koyo Kouoh — Curatorial Framework, 61st Venice Biennale