An Anthology of Familiar Tones

Serena Lee

 

June 6-27th 2009

Reception June 6th 1pm - 9pm, Artist Talk 8:30pm

 

 

Fascinated by language, power structures, and systems of control, I often end up constructing Neo-Baroque, maximalist bizarreries: video installations, animations, and performances. My ongoing body of work, An Anthology of Familiar Tones, addresses the performance and interpretation of musical language, and what it means to be in tune.

 

The pieces in this Anthology transpose systems of communication, history, technology and the performing body into a musical paradigm. This collection takes a step back from established forms and systems, and shifts perspectives to disorient the spectator and reinvigorate the familiar with wonder and absurdity.

 

Taking aim at the ivory tower is a matter of play; I use aesthetics that flirt and reconfigurations that tickle. An Anthology of Familiar Tones steps back from the initial intimacy between us and our instruments, to consider the technological mediation of expression, and the overlapping cultural geographies of the “universal” language of music.