The Awthum Empire

Photo & Interview by Stephanie Bonham (more photos)

What is Vidkidz?
Vidkidz is a name for the video adventures explored by Zak Loyd and Melanie Clemmons. The name comes from our lord and leader Kidvid of the Burger King Kids Club. Typically, Vidkidz uses two laptops and two projectors but Science is our friend, so we like to experiment with technology. Our images are curated from life, the brain, internet, the future, collective consciousness, 8-bit memories, MS paint, VHS tape, found object scans, and other mysterious sources.

Could you describe some of the themes found in your work?
Vidkidz motifs evolve naturally but can be defined in the color-spilled realm of psychoactive rainbow melt, optical illusion voyages, digital analog sex and procreation, indigenous spiritualism in the service of creating light portals to complement sonic happenings. Our goal is to produce an experience beyond synesthesia.

Where do you come from?
Zak was born in the dust field deserts of west Texas, developed in the grey suburbs of the metroplex, reached 4th level in the acid dipped heart and capital of Texas, braved the ice caverns of Brooklyn and has, once again, returned to the bliss and oneness of Austin. Melanie crawled out of the Gulf of Mexico to grow in Victoria, Texas before wandering north to Austin. She, too, survived the NorthEastern Icelands, and is happy see the sky again in Austin.

So you moved to Brooklyn but now you’re back in Austin – what’s up with that?
Brooklyn was a world of darkness which was good for projections but bad for inspiration. In the shadows we met many interesting spirits and shared a plethora of knowledge before returning South.

How did the two of you start working together?
Vidkidz saw its beginning in the late zeros as a subset of the Eyeplug collective. Eyeplug originally consisted of Chris Reed, Michael Carrol, Lori Celluloid, and Zak Loyd. However, during a massive rainbow party projection exploit, Eyeplug learned of the video magic Melanie could produce and inducted her into the collective.

What’s in the future for Vidkidz?
Beyond today we want to continue playing and experimenting with ideas. Some of those ideas are a video show, video mapping, analog synthesizers, interactive projections, playful interfaces, and internet browser magic.