TRIMPIN: the sound of invention

Personally, I’ve always been a bit distrustful of people who only refer to themselves by one name alone. There’s always a hint of arrogance involved in it, even from the most well-meaning person. I could name famous examples of course but I prefer to avoid hate mail or litigious lawyers so I’ll hold my tongue. But I’m sure you can think of some yourself. A welcome exemption to this rule though lies with a German creator named Trimpin. I refer to him as ‘creator’ because it’s as all-encompassing a term I can think of when it comes to his work. An academic may refer to him as an interdisciplinary artist since he is an architect/musician/composer/inventor/sculptor all wrapped up into one package. It would be impossible to separate one title from another and expect the whole thing to still function.

What producer/director Peter Esmonde does in his intriguing documentary though is examine the man’s work from a straightforward, holistic perspective, forever emphasizing that it is the areas in between that are the most fascinating, how an idea for a piece of music and the strange, new musical sculpture required to perform it materialize together.  In Trimpin’s world, there would be no question of whether the chicken or egg came first, they both exist simultaneously and to think of it otherwise would be self-defeating. The overall film structure is pretty standard documentary fare as attention is paid to the man’s childhood in Germany, interviews with his family and other experts, etc. Trimpin is fairly sedate in most interactions, except when it comes to work. Then he exudes the energy of a mad toymaker, taking whatever materials are available to him (even if it appears to be common detritus to the rest of us) and fashioning together intricate mechanical works that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and produce sounds you can’t readily imagine being made otherwise.

For example, the collection of wooden shoes that are hooked together into a giant mobile playing an instrument-specific composition by the synchronization of wooden hammers in each one is peculiar and satisfying. One is forced to choose how to contextualize it for him or herself. Do you look upon it as a piece of modern sculpture? An eccentric yet strangely practical instrument? A Rube Goldberg machine built by a madman? Again, as the film stresses, Trimpin’s work invites multiple interpretations, all of which are usually equally valid. And don’t even get me started on the sixty-foot electric guitars sculpture that both self-plays and auto-tunes itself, I think that statement alone is apt to illustrate a sliver of his skill. Perhaps the most dramatically satisfying turn comes from his project with the world-famous Kronos Quartet as they collaborate on a concert/installation using instruments created by Trimpin exclusively for the event.

Uncertainty about how the performance will shape up and the exact instrumentation causes friction amongst the musicians and inventor, however those looking for fireworks will be disappointed as there are no dramatic blowups. However, Esmonde captures a genuine unease over whether or not this performance will indeed come together or not. Trimpin’s constantly evolving ideas and unorthodox methods clash with the classically-trained quartet who, while open to experimentation, still come from an orthodox training that completely flies in the face of Trimpin’s beautiful madness.

When the final act comes and the performance unfolds, you are left hoping these people can pull it off. I won’t spoil the outcome but let’s just say the buildup is certainly worth it. The same could be said of this film itself; while it follows its subject dutifully, if being somewhat pedestrian in the process, it allows the viewer to quietly observe a man at work, comfortable in tackling the contradictions of his various disciplines and synthesizing them together to fashion works of art that have yet to reach their full appreciation. When they do in time, this film will be an invaluable document and worth checking out again.

For more information, go to www.trimpinmovie.com