tekhnē

The lab is designed as an open toolbox for artists studying their heritage, intended to help them navigate their practice outside of (self-)exoticisation and the uneven power dynamics created by mass-cultural and other stereotypes. Evoking resynthesis—a processing method in computer music that analyzes sounds to extract their fundamental components—as a guiding metaphor, the lab also invites participants to confront conservative views of culture as something frozen, solidified, and generally untouchable, thus resistant to any transformative practices.

By recognising the »traditional« as a dynamic phenomenon and treating it with proper care and respect, the lab will offer a triangular approach to »resynthesis« presenting it as a tool for the aesthetic, technological, and political transformation of cultures and societies. The first two aspects aim to encourage participants to experiment with various technologies and methods of music and sound production, composition, and performance, reflecting on how this exploratory perspective can unlock the emancipatory potential of sonic practices. The sociopolitical approach will oppose exoticisation, appropriation, tokenism, and the overall colonial gaze, while also inviting participants to consider how their practice can drive political imagination, avoiding the simplification of cultures into stereotypes and acknowledging their complexities and realities.

Carefully addressing the commonly manifested antagonism between the imaginary East and West (or imaginary South and North), this framework is not bound by specific geographical locations but rather by critical methodologies for engaging with the concept of tradition. Within it, reflections on, for example, the highly asymmetrical power relations in what is called »world music« can conceptually coexist with a thorough examination of the increasing connections between folklore and nationalist or essentialist concepts. The lab will also focus on the issues of distance and belonging, exploring various artistic and research strategies to engage with tradition for those who are disconnected from their roots due to assimilation, migration, or both.

The lab will take place in the radialsystem studios over the course of six days and will include inputs from other specialists (eg. sociologists, sound scholars, technologists) to be defined based on the participating group. A public output will take place on Sunday 2 February in radialsystem Saal.

Application deadline is 15 October 2024.

More info see https://www.ctm-festival.de/festival-2025/open-calls/resynthesising-the-traditional