Taginting, A Resonant Community of Sound
Practice Curator: Dayang Yraola (Philippine)
Sound practice is the term this project uses when invoking all those who participate in the production of experimental, electronic, noise music and sound art. These practitioners share the same spirit of experimentation in media and discipline. It is a sustained practice, while strangely in a constant state of flux. It is a perpetually emergent practice, ironically situated in a condition that favors the dominant. This project claims that these practitioners of the Philippines come together organically form a community. The curator appraises this community of sound practitioners as resonant (taginting is Tagalog word for resonant). I am borrowing the sonic characteristic of resonance (deep, clear and continuous) to metaphorically illustrate that the community of sound practitioners are grounded within historical contexts; participants have a clear sense of belonging; and that the practice is sustained.
This exhibit then aims to illustrate the ecology of this community of sound practice– their shared experiences and struggles, their shared artistic and musical lineage, cradled within the 4 decades of nation-building and rebuilding. The exhibit will be divided into modules of chronological order: Module 1 is for the present community, which is the second half of 2000s to present, highlighting Kamuning Public Radio, Ruthless, Musiko Imbento, & WSK; Module 2 focuses on the contribution of artist-run spaces, from late 1990s to early 2000s, highlighting Big Sky Mind, Surrounded by Water, Mag:Net, & Green Papaya Art Projects; Module 3 features influences that are coming from visual arts, music and performance art, highlighting Maceda, Judy Sibayan with Ray Albano & Agnes Arellano, from 1960s to 1980s. Module 4 is an auxiliary of Module 1, bringing to focus some of the most productive sound practitioners in the present time coming from various backgrounds, namely, Arvin Nogueras aka Caliph8, Children of Cathode Ray, Heresy, Lirio Salvador & Maria Christine Muyco, PhD.