Broken Composers is an artist duo formed by interdisciplinary creators Kirill Rave and Vitali Yu.
Since our debut at the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2017, we’ve been creating works that merge music, large-scale media installations, unique light and lasers, video art, and theatrical performances.
We combine architectural thinking and a scientific approach to develop a language that pulls the viewer out of everyday reality and opens a doorway into something unfamiliar. We care deeply about the dramaturgy of perception — each piece has its own music, internal rhythm, and structure of expectations that eventually collapse. Our works are shows with a twist, a shift, a rupture — a moment when everything becomes something else.
We’re fascinated by reality itself — its distortions, paradoxes, and phenomena visible to the naked eye: physical effects, astronomy, optical illusions, sensory glitches. We explore how humans construct a picture of the world and a sense of what’s real — in order to step beyond it and invite the viewer to follow.
Our work combines architectural space, sound, moving images, physical light, and optical phenomena. We use custom electroacoustic instruments and analog laser projection alongside digital techniques. Which instruments and methods are used depends on the work; the technology is not itself the subject.
Laser Lumia is part of our work with abstract, changing patterns of refracted laser light. We have used it in site-specific installations and audiovisual performances, including Laser Meadows and Lumia — Signal Festival.
Laser MeadowsIn 2019, Kirill Rave developed and patented a method of laser projection based on rotating refractive objects. Russian patent RU2705182C1 was published on 5 November 2019.
A laser beam passes through a refracting object mounted on a rotating support before reaching a projection surface. Adjusting the position, height and angle of the optical arrangement changes the resulting projection: its shape, detail, brightness and movement.
Laser Lumia is the broader optical technique. The patent describes Kirill’s specific projection arrangement; it does not cover Laser Lumia as a whole. Our installations and performances explore several optical approaches, so the patented method should not be assumed to underlie every work.
Patent RU2705182C1In our live performances, sound and laser light are performed together in real time. We combine live electroacoustic music with manually controlled analog laser projection. The visuals are created by hand during the performance, not played back as a fixed sequence.
Prisms, mirrors, focus, angles, beam movement, and laser power can all be adjusted in response to changes in rhythm, density, feedback, and noise. Smoke, reflections, and the architecture physically reshape the light. The result cannot be repeated exactly in the same way twice.
Live shows
Other works investigate light and shadow as active elements of musical interaction.
In Umbra, objects crossing a laser plane trigger musical notes, turning physical movement and the interruption of light into sound. These experiments extend our interest in the relationship between physical phenomena, perception and musical composition.
Umbra
Kirill Rave and Vitali Yu work as co-authors of Broken Composers’ installations, music, and performances. Their individual artistic practices continue alongside the duo.
Multimedia artist, creative director & music producer
Vitali Yu works across multimedia art, stage and lighting design, music production and immersive experiences. His practice brings spatial composition, sound and live performance together.
He is a co-author of Broken Composers alongside Kirill Rave. Alongside the duo’s work, he develops projects as a creative director and releases music under his own name.
Phygital artist, performer & percussionist
Kirill Rave works between physical objects and digital images, creating installations, sculptures and performances. His background combines architectural, musical and academic art education.
A co-author of Broken Composers and an artist represented by VS Gallery, he explores perception, visual effects and the relationship between material and virtual worlds.