Cycles: conversations and collaboration

GiGi FM is a trained dancer and multidisciplinary artist, and perfectly placed within these areas to identify and refine patterns in sound, speech and movement. She sees all of her practices as sides of the same coin, rather than separate forms. They are expression channeled into different disciplines. 'Poetry, music, dancing - they talk to each other, they communicate, complement each other.'

GiGi FM's artistic approach is mirrored by Lumus Instruments, a multidisciplinary studio working with light, sound, and structure across installation art and scenography. The studio is led by Timo Lejeune and Julius Oosting, who draw from backgrounds in design, architecture, and engineering. With a growing fascination for the physical manifestation of computational technology, they continuously develop new iterations of technological installations, from festival stages and their iconic Radio Radio backdrop to intricate installations and live audiovisual performances.

Their name reflects their approach: Lumus stems from the Latin words lumen (light) and ludus (play), while Instruments points to their identity as makers of instruments, precision tools for playing. Their work extends the invisible systems within us into the visible world. 'We wanted to create shows beyond typical dance experiences, letting audiences experience a different side of electronic music,' they explain. Polynode, for example, began as a straight line and naturally evolved into a full circle - a cycle, infinite and dynamic. Emerging organically from Lumus Instruments’ previous installations, the piece comprises 18,800 RGB pixels, with light rippling around the ring in mesmerizing patterns. One of the nodes is programmed to react directly to GiGi FM’s voice, creating a dialogue between sound and structure. The result is simple yet complex, inviting the audience to decode the logic behind the shifting trails of light and the role of each ring. Reflections of light and shadow across the classical interior of Felix Meritis became part of the work itself, turning the entire hall into a living extension of the performance.

At ADE, they collaborated to create a work of art that was truly special, finding warmth and emotion in two disparate and colder art forms. Their collaboration started far beyond ADE, with over a year of conversations before meeting up at Wire festival, where GiGi FM arrived early to be beneath and admire the Polynode installation with the Lumus team, where they geeked out about what their collaboration could become and how their practices could intertwine. That’s where the “let’s do it” moment happened - naturally. They spoke about aiming for ADE, and when the opportunity surfaced, the timing aligned for all of them.
Setting a shared deadline simply matched the way they work: intuitively, responsively, and with trust.

GiGi FM keeps her spoken word abstract, moving from French to English and back again, relying on sensorial and inner body reflections, in order to streamline the communication with Lejeune's visuals. The meditative music turns inner emotion outward, letting instinctual, evocative sounds, like the steady pulse of a heartbeat, unfold into beat and rhythm.

Both maintain packed schedules. Lumus has installations at Draaimolen, Wildeburg and Lentekabinet, while GiGi FM’s calendar at ADE was just as intense, with four performances throughout the week, including the 39.5-hour ambient ‘marathon’ and a set at Lofi with Coda alongside artists like DJ Nobu, Objekt, CCL, and Priori. Despite the constant demands, they stay true to their artistic approach, carving out space to draw inspiration from the world around them. Deadlines become tools rather than constraints, channeling their creativity. Lejeune sums up their mindset: ‘Pushing yourself toward a deadline and hoping for inspiration is good, but I think iterating with techniques, trusting them, and shaping them into something new is an approach that proves effective in our line of work.'

The pulse and rhythm of GiGi FM’s music and words are mirrored in Lumus’ installation, creating a seamless dialogue between light, sound, and language. 'It gets people in a trance… just following this light can be so hypnotizing,' Lejeune reflects. The music draws audiences deeper into sensory awareness, guiding them through emotional and physical cycles. Rotating spectres of light invite the brain to interpret freely, while the words complement rather than constrain, leaving space for personal reflection. As GiGi FM observes,

‘Music links everything in an emotional way, but also when you have words, you tap into the intellectuality of people - and this is how bridges are made.’

GiGi FM spoke about wanting to become comfortable with stillness - a shift influenced both by a recent injury and a desire to explore the full range of her artistic expression. This stands in contrast to her reputation for swirling, peak-time techno. 'Usually people find it difficult to be in these kinds of ambient, meditative experiences,' she says. Lejeune encouraged her to follow this direction, trusting her vision - a trust that flows both ways, enabling them to come together and perform. It was clear that they shared a genuine encouragement and respect for each other’s art, allowing them to push and support one another in realizing their creative vision. Sometimes it takes someone else’s affirmation to feel confident enough to reveal a different side of yourself.

Each rehearsal, installation, and performance becomes part of a larger loop, where inspiration and expression return renewed. The audience becomes a participant in this cycle, their energy reflected and amplified through the installation. What begins as a single spark evolves into an infinite feedback loop of art, emotion, and technology.