ASCAT

”We have been offering professional storm chasing tours for two decades in Tornado Alley with the best tornado forecasters. Our team is highly experienced in every facet of storm chasing and they have the best results in finding severe storms and tornadoes. If you’re looking for adventure, you’ll love this thrilling storm chasing vacation holiday in America. We offer 6 and 10-day tours where you’ll travel across a number of states throughout the Great Plains of the United States. Our vehicles are equipped with mobile broadband data connections, up-to-date radar software, and state-of-the-art communications equipment. We’re able to see crucial high-resolution radar data because of our investment in this cutting-edge technology.”  

– Storm Chasing Adventure Tours (Not to be confused with the artificial one)


Medverkande

Ljusdesign: Markus Granqvist
Kostym: Lena Lindgren
Koreografi: Olle Strandberg Colling
Luftballongskonstruktion: Sara de Vylder
På scen: Methinee Wongtrakoon, Simon Wiborn, Henrik Agger, Klara Mossberg, Tom Brand, Anna Ahnlund


Artificial Storm Chasing Adventure Tours (hereby referred to as ASCAT) is based on a group of artist from different fields that want to experience amazing natural phenomena, but are mainly dealing with the artificial. A longing for working with and in weather yet being stuck between walls, roof and floor in different cultural institutions has led to a unification.

A group formed. A group creating high quality storm chasing tours for citizens that for different reasons are stuck with indoor experiences. Mentally or physically stuck that is. By placing their meetings in fictional situations, they find a new way of dealing with themselves, their work and each other. The find new conversation topics and unexpected discoveries. This gives rise to ideas that are not originated via more conventional, so-called real meetings.


The group has also formulated a sort of manifesto around their working process:

  • We meet in fictional places under highly ordered forms.
  • We offer semi-professional artifical storm chasing tours.
  • We are fairly experienced in some facets of artificial storm chasing.
  • We have ok results in creating severe artificial storms and tornadoes.
  • We forbid the use of radar software. (Up-to-date or older, non-functional or functional, apparatus)

Double Rainbow with Tornado (DRT) – A performance by ASCAT.

DRT begins as an open landscape. A big orange fabric is covering the floor on which there are several fans placed. Electronic music from speakers in the room and there’s a bar selling different beverages as well as ASCAT-merchandise. There’s a special ambience in the room. The calm before the storm. Some people sit down by the fans, on the fabric, talking, drinking beer or healthier choices. There’s a projection showing ASCAT’s earlier storm experiences.

Some people are more than happy here. They would like to just stay and talk. Other people can’t wait for the action. Storm chasing is mainly a recreational endeavor where people expect:

  • The beauty of views afforded by the sky and land.
  • The mystery of not knowing precisely what will unfold and the quest to undetermined destination on the open road.
  • Intangible experiences such as feeling one with a much larger and powerful natural world.
  • The challenge of correctly forecasting and intercepting storms with the optimal vantage points.
  • Pure thrill seeking.

Downtime can consist of sitting under sun-baked skies for hours, playing pickup sports, evaluating data, or visiting landmarks whilst awaiting convective initiation. During an inactive pattern, this down time can persist for days. When storms are going there is often little or no time to eat or relieve oneself and finding fuel can cause frustrating delays and detours.

Then a group of people arrive all of a sudden. From somewhere. A jaded crew of storm surfers apparently. Arriving straight from some kind of highly physical and intense action. Another storm nearby? As they arrive the start to put dead bodies on the floor, making them come to life by dragging them on the ground, throwing them, handling them in different ways. The people on the balloon either get out of their way or join in to help. They start dragging bodies and each other using the fabric on the floor, preparing for something. The music gets more intense. Some people stop drinking and talking, others hide away in a corner of the room to finish their conversation.


The storm begin. A huge wind machine is placed on one side of the room creating a 30 m/s wind hitting the jaded crew of storm surfers. The ASCAT-crew is also around with their cameras, trying to catch the action. As the wind hits the storm surfers, they start using the wind to create movements otherwise impossible. By using the large fabric they create giant arches and waves of the material. Artificial lightings are striking in the room, as the even more intensified electronic music gets louder. We’re in the middle of the tornado.

Finally the fabric gets filled with air. All the people are suddenly standing around a gigantic hot air balloon (called SE-ZEN). The ASCAT-crew helps the people to get inside the balloon we’re a party begins. This is the more formal part of the party. A short ASCAT speech is held and then there’s a concert inside of the balloon. The room itself is large and spherical. Some people are laying down on the floor, others runs quickly to the bar to enhance the experience with alcohol or healthier drinks. Some people are standing outside in the small available spaces left to stand on. in the end of the balloon concert a DJ is picking up from the outside and everyone starts to walk out of the balloon.

Then on to and through the filled balloon. A weird sort of mountain landscape appears as the techno music intensifies. This part of the party can go on forever. There’s never a greater moment to celebrate than after capturing a perfect DRT moment on camera.

ASCAT – We deliver a unique experience