During our residency at Cas-co in Leuven, we kicked off with a performance during the flag inauguration. (the flag was made for the 019 flag project) Mert proposed the idea of having a printer engage in lip syncing. Taking the helm, I decided to interpret this concept quite literally and inject it with a touch of camp. Picture this: a costume resembling a mundane photocopy machine, with my queer body serving as the vessel to activate it. Michiel handled the makeup, while the chosen song was Kylie Minogue's 'German, Bold Italic'—a queer icon with lyrics linked to typefaces, making it the perfect lip sync number for a printer. Technically, our setup was quite amateurish, with the song's lyrics printed on a scroll that gradually unfurled during the lip sync, synchronized with the music. While this performance garnered a sort of cult following, given its limited audience of just 15 people, it prompts the question: Can we view lip sync as a form of performative printing?
Lip sync, short for lip synchronization, is a technical term for matching a speaking or singing person's lip movements with sung or spoken vocals or soundscapes. Its history is diverse and spans various cultures and entertainment forms.
Ancient Beginnings: The roots of lip syncing stretch back to ancient times, where performers would mimic speeches or songs alongside pre-recorded music in performative productions. Golden Age of Cinema: Lip syncing gained traction during the early days of cinema, particularly in silent films. As technology advanced, actors began synchronizing their lip movements with recorded dialogue and music. Music Videos and Television: In the 20th century, lip syncing became prevalent in music videos and television performances. Artists would mime their songs, using lip syncing as a tool for promotion and performance. Drag Culture Influence: Notably, lip syncing found an important home within drag culture, where performers elevated it to an art form. Drag queens, in particular, embraced lip syncing as a cornerstone of their performances, using it to tell stories, impersonate celebrities, and entertain audiences with flair and emotion.
Lip Sync Related to Printing: typically associated with performance, could intersect with mainstream printing.
Printing involves putting images or text onto different surfaces like paper or fabric. Now, imagine if "lip sync" were a printing technique. Here's how we might conceptualize it: Dynamic Printing: This method would adjust ink flow or application based on design details, much like performers adjust their movements to match song lyrics. Expressive Reproduction: It would prioritize capturing the emotion or mood of the content being printed, similar to how performers convey feelings through lip syncing. Interactive Elements: Lip sync printing might include interactive features, where printed images seem to "move" or change subtly depending on how they're viewed, creating a dynamic experience. Unconventional Surfaces: Like how drag performances often take place in unexpected venues, lip sync printing could involve printing on non-traditional materials for unique visual effects.
In the world of lip syncing, precision and expression are paramount. Today, many drag queens opt for lip fillers not only for aesthetic reasons but also to enhance their lip sync skills. But what if we could take this a step further? Imagine utilizing 3D printing technology to create the perfect lips for lip syncing performances. By bridging the gap to 3D printing of body parts, we envision a future where lip syncing culture benefits from customized, prosthetic lips. These 'juicy' lips, printed to perfection, could amplify the visual impact of lip syncing performances, allowing performers to magnify the nuances of lip movements and textual expression.
While cosmetic procedures like lip augmentation, facial rejuvenation, dental enhancements, and scar revision currently offer indirect benefits to lip syncing, the potential of 3D-printed lip prosthetics opens new avenues for customization and artistic expression.
Part of ‘Lip Sync as a Performative Printing Method’ lecture text by Ruud Van Moorleghem