by Pablo Garduno, on Oct 10, 2018 3:47:14 PM
I have always experienced techno at underground raves in abandoned warehouses or deep in a forest somewhere. The first time I went to a techno party was in Denver, where I had lived for the past seven years. I found it while on an Uber ride home. I rolled the window down and asked the driver to stop so I could get out and follow a faint four-on-the-floor beat I heard in the distance. The party took place in a small warehouse, and although the music was intricate and infinitely more artistic than what was commonly played at commercial EDM festivals in the same city, it had to be kept in the shadows.
In contrast, Lunchmeat Festival took place in the basement of the Veletržní palác, part of the National Gallery in Prague, where just last week I spent the afternoon admiring centuries-old Czech paintings. This contrast of traditional and contemporary can be seen throughout Prague down to the architecture. The city's support for all kinds of art forms is what drew me to Prague in the first place.
Lunchmeat 2018 was the eighth iteration of the yearly international festival dedicated to celebrating and showcasing advanced electronic music and new media art. Before going, this just sounded like a highly curated and polished version of the average techno party. The genre has always been about innovation; one of the ideals that started it was pushing technology to its limits to discover and shape unexplored sonic landscapes.
What makes Lunchmeat special isn’t only showcasing advanced electronic music; it’s the fact that it took place in the National Gallery. This is an institution that not only displays works by Klimt and Van Gogh, but has also allowed Lunchmeat to happen in one of their buildings! It speaks volumes about the progressiveness of the art world’s view on techno and other forms of advanced electronic music. 
I had never shot pictures in such a low-light environment before. This meant having to shoot at a low shutter speed, which makes images more likely to come out blurry. I prepared for the shoot by taking photos out of my window at night, although I made the mistake of only using autofocus.
I found out, at about 4:30 AM, that the manual focus on my lens hadn’t been working properly the whole night, which I normally use for event photography. The flashing lights were too fast for the autofocus to keep up with, so eventually I decided to give up on trying to keep the images in focus and instead chose to focus on capturing the energy of the party. 
If you like experimental art, immersive spaces, dancing, or new experiences in general, I guarantee you’ll love Lunchmeat. The next one is still a year away, but in the meantime, I recommend the Ankali club in Vrsovice as a proper introduction to the techno scene. Just be sure to prepare by reading their house rules, eating a healthy meal, taking a nap, drinking plenty of water, and getting ready to dance all night! Their parties tend to go until 8 in the morning, and they are absolutely worth messing up your sleep schedule for. You’ll hear amazing music, meet even more amazing people, and whether it's your first of many or not quite your taste, it will be a night to remember.
Keep up with me on Instagram: @pablo.g.photo
