panel discussion series POLITICS OF MUSIC & ART: EXPERIMENTALISM & SONIC ACTIVISM

POLITICS OF MUSIC & ART

Can art and music be apolitical? In times of pandemics, wars, revolutions, climate catastrophes; but even in times of peace, when everything seemingly functions, one must ask if non-political art and music can exist? Does an artist, musician, curator or an art institution have a duty to take political stances? And arepolitical meanings always already inherent to  every piece of art, music or exhibition?

In light of the recent and ongoing “Woman Life Freedom” revolution in Iran, many usual or known forms, concepts, and approaches to art and music have been challenged by displacement, deconstruction but also re-contextualization Whether  it’sthe creation processes, distribution, the role they play in Iran’s society or the way the public interacts with and perceives them; art and music have experienced a fundamental transformation. This is best exemplified by how formerly institutionalized, industrialized and privatized ecosystems of art and music have become absurd, useless, and meaningless. On the other hand, more flexible forms of cultural production and consumption, such as public art and public music have become leading if not the only remaining and meaningful voices in a climate of political turmoil.  

Experimentalism & Sonic Activism

Since the beginning of the revolution, any artist’s encounter with the movement is met and surveyed with great sensitivity and thus can lead to widespread objections. This shows how these artworks can affect public opinion or exploit a movement is not just a concern of people in power. This calls for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of art-making, and the subversive potential to traverse the so-called “Political art”. Reflecting on this state focusing on Experimental music and sonic arts, we will question, and comment on the so-called “sonic agency” and navigate the position of various forms of music/ sound art production in correlation to the more popular and accessible revolution content.

Panelists:
Shaahin Peymani (Composer and Sound Artist)
Farahnaz Hatam (Musician, Sound Artist)
Behrooz Moosavi (Musician, Curator) 
Rouzbeh Shadpey  (Artist, Musician, Writer)
 

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