ELEMAUN

2016 - 2021

Audiovisual Performance Set

The term “elemaun” (loanword from French) is equivalent to the English word element, commonly used in mathematical terms of the surface integral in Persian. The components and smaller surfaces that are selected to study the whole surface are called “elemaun.” Such elements can contract in size to a considerable degree to estimate the limit value of the intended surface.
The project is the result of research started in 2016 in the format of audiovisual performance set in experimental electronic music, recreating & sampling the ritual & regional music of Iran and rhythmic patterns in both formats of sound and visual inspired by Persian culture and the Middle-Eastern philosophy. The Elemaun audiovisual set is created based on appropriating the motifs, visuals, and the regional and ritual music of Iran combined with contemporary electronic music and abstract visual narrativity executed through technology for producing and controlling digitally created real-time motion pictures to create a project based on the context of live cinema.

The regional and ritual music roots are connected to deep mysticism and ancient lifestyle and the source comes from nature, life, and social interactions of instrument players with their people and their habitat. They should reach a sublime spiritual position to be permitted to play when the musical instrument allows them to play so they are considered as masters and mentors in their societies. Inspired by the sky, rain, nature, and love, this music is used as medicine in healing ceremonies in some regions with staged musicians singing and performing for the generosity of the sea and sky or mourning for their lost ones in the sea. Considering this deep flow of energy and the musicians’ being detached from the physical world while playing, this project was complemented by adding a contemporary touch of music composed based on those key tunes and recreating these materials into a new form of music.

The music album of the project was released on September 2021 on major online streaming services.
SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE MUSIC | SOUNDCLOUD

The vinyl edition is released on Koo Editions and available internationally in major independent record stores.
The Limited collectors edition 25/25 of vinyl pack including a signed unique print from the QAL project in addition to the transferable identical NFT on Ethereum blockchain will be available on further announcement for collecting directly from Koo Editions Bandcaamp. The wallet address would be asked after the purchase on the Bandcamp link and the NFTs will be transferred within one business day based on the order of submission. The print collection is on view at foundation.app.

The digital package including high quality audio files, digital booklet & poster in PDF format is available for collecting.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIGITAL AND PHYGITAL ALBUM

The set consists of six compositions of digital and analog synthesizers, field recorded samples, ambient soundscapes, and synthesized drum machines referencing different cultures, music, and narratives and the same approach has been taken for computer-generated motion pictures and real-time edited video footage. The tunes are sampled as abstract, minimal, and repetitive motifs from different cultures of Baluch, Azeri, Southern Iranian Arabs, Khorasan, etc.

The visual aspect of this project is an attempt to bring together the elements from literature, architecture and art, considering the Iranian rituals and performative arts including the mystical dance of the Sufis over thousands of years in the Iranian plateau. The noises and digital glitches of the 90s cassettes, the video images of past decades, the reproduced images of architectures, and real-time visual codings are trying to depict a non-specific place and time meant to be created in the audience’s mind based on their own perception.

Performances:
2019 | Touchdesigner Summit 2019 | Agora, Montreal, Canada.
2019 | Tasmeem Doha 2019 | VCUQ Artrium, Doha, Qatar.
2019 | Idehhub Anniversary | Espinas Palace Hotel, Tehran, Iran.
2018 | Gate of Tehran | Silent Green Kulturquartier, Berlin, Germany.
2018 | Mutek AE | Knowledge City, Dubai, UAE.
2018 | Paraffin Tehran | Rooberoo Mansion, Tehran, Iran.
2018 | TEM Festival | Charsoo Cineplex, Tehran, Iran.
2017 | D.O.E.S Festival 2 | Rooberoo Mansion, Tehran, Iran.
2017 | Darbast Platform, Tehran, Iran.
2017 | Aab Gallery Museum, Shiraz, Iran.
2017 | Rig-e-Zarrin, Yazd, Iran.
2016 | Resartis Meetup, Tehran, Iran.
2016 | Patchlab Festival, Krakow, Poland.
2016 | Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria.