Sonic Futures
March 18-June 11, 2017
Music is expansive and ubiquitous, and is expressed in every known culture.
Although it travels in invisible waves, it has a tangible impact and can emotionally and physically move people. We utilize it as a form of therapy, it adds drama and subtleties to film, and oftentimes, transports us to a particular moment in our life. Music is the medium of time—one can fast forward, rewind, pause, stop, replay, or remix sounds. And when combined with video and other media, such as drawing and performance, it takes on another dimension. The artists in Sonic Futures experiment with these elements. Their works reimagine our own contemporary conditions and propose new possibilities for the future.
Some of the artists offer specific examples of what the future may hold. Laura Hyunjhee Kim’s music video considers what love and passion might look like in a hyper-digitally mediated time. Keith Lafuente’s Look Book borrows from the karaoke aesthetic to foretell fashion for the upcoming season. From a macro perspective, artist collective INVASORIX’s music videos challenge the status quo by questioning access, power, and privilege. The works of Merritt Wallace and Jeepneys explore traveling through time and space. Through a more immediate lens, Jenifer Wofford recontextualizes popular song lyrics as protest signs. Sofía Córdova’s multi-channel video becomes a cautionary tale about neglecting a precious planet.
Sonic Futures is a dynamic platform of reflection. Artists play and manipulate time: they consider the past and the present, and its consequences on our collective future. The works activate many senses. Singing and dancing are encouraged!