Multimedia Art
Cultural Capitals
In this ongoing collaborative project with sculptor and multimedia artist, Kayla Gifford, we tell a story of the cultural collision between our conservative christian upbringing, in South Carolina, with that of her husband’s conservative muslim upbringing, in Mosul, Iraq.
With this project, we are installing two large domes facing toward one another; with the inside of the domes modeled after architecture found in the capital cities of Columbia, South Carolina, and Baghdad, Iraq. The lateral orientation of the domes, makes them appear destructive and threatening to their cultural interiors, as the interiors remain unknown to each other. Recordings of a single original choral piece, written with two parts for two individual choirs (one eastern choir, and one western choir) will be played. The individual parts will be played in the dome of their respective cultural representation, in architectural design. We capitalize on the speaker design and position, as well as the parabolic shape of the domes, to focus sound behind each dome. As sound bounces off of the walls behind the domes, a spectator positioned to visualize the destructive nature of the domes, hears a harmonious choral piece. However as a spectator positions himself/herself behind the individual domes, they primarily hear a representation of the culture which that individual dome represents.
In this research based project, I am exploring ethnomusicological differences in singing style, that are hallmarks of middle eastern culture. Including, but not limited to, the maqam modal scale system, the use of microtones, and various melismatic vocal ornamentation techniques.
We are currently applying to numerous funding opportunities, to help fund the final design and installation. Current structural design prototypes are shown below, as a stepping stone. As we dig into more research and speak with our advisors, changes may be made to the design and materials used to construct the domes. The prototype domes pictured below, have received attention and recognition by the International Sculpture Center.
Menorca
In this ongoing collaborative project with, acclaimed NYC choreographer, Audra Bryant, and multimedia artist, Kayla Gifford, we attempt to tell a story of unsanctified love.
With this project, we use dance performance and visual projections to portray the beauty, as well as the physical and psychological barriers, related to exploring forbidden love. The composition was influenced by the stressors and insecurities of encountering love with someone of the same sex, going against the religious dogma that had been inculcated at a young age, from my conservative christian upbringing.
Raymond Gifford 