I believe a world without sound is just as bad as a world without art. Why not mix the two to make our world a better place amid the chaos of it all? Music allows humans to explore the depths of perception, existence and identity. In the Aidekman Arts Center’s Tufts University Art Galleries, there exists a haven for the arts where artists can host their work for members of the Tufts community.
Tufts University Art Galleries’ newest installation, “Impossible Music,” opened last Thursday with the goal of physically representing the transformative role that music plays in our lives. The exhibition consists of independent artists, collectives and innovators who use sound and performance to explore the interdisciplinary potential of music to communicate new ideas and concepts.
The gallery’s opening began with a 45-minute performance of Aki Onda’s "Spirits Known and Unknown," which involves a collection of found brass bells curated by Onda. Each bell is rung in connection to choreographed movements played out by two actors across a teal-colored three-tiered stage in the center of the room. During the performance, it felt as if there was a palpable tension hanging in the air as the two performers engaged in their sound-based conversation. Each bell had a different tone and weight, emitting a uniquely haunting resonance as the clapper hit the outer shell, further adding emotion to their narrative. Both performers traveled the entirety of the space, going from the stage down into the audience, remaining stoic in expression. I went into the performance with little background, only knowing that I would be listening to bells for what later felt like an eternity. Despite that, I found myself surprisingly immersed in the narrative that was being crafted in front of me. Slight ringing in my ears aside, I felt ready to tackle the many sounds ahead.
Once the ringing finally stopped, I took a lap to get to the heart of the exhibition. The artists displayed everything from dynamic sculptures and activations to reading material that informed their process and provided context to their works on display. Most artists chose video as the vehicle for their ideas, while others opted for maps, devices and physical installations. Every installation was contained in its own soundscape with minimal overlap, which was interesting considering that the interaction of sound and environment is the goal of the exhibition. The artistic collective Black Quantum Futurism dedicated a large area of the space to a video installation, a bookshelf and even a map which added some historical context to their main piece, “Mmere Dane: The Black Time Belt.” As a self-proclaimed history nerd, I thought the collective’s work was a creative way of visually depicting the evolution of all-Black towns, Freedom Colonies and the impact of said evolution on the communities that inhabited them. On the opposite wall is a line of iPods attached to headphones, containing crafted and found audio that corresponds with locations on the Black Time Belt map on the opposite wall. I listened to audio from Africatown, Ala., which felt haunting because the audio had most likely only been heard by a small audience before I put the headphones on. After reading the accompanying materials, it becomes clear that most of the artists focused their discussions on the preservation and protection of culture through music as a mode of resistance.
As a lover of art and all genres of music, I found the exhibition to be extremely profound, but not too lofty. Catering to every audience, from music nerds to history buffs, “Impossible Music,” explores the universal language of music from a new angle. There will be related performances during the duration of the exhibition around campus, so keep an eye out for announcements from Tufts University Art Galleries if you’re interested in a live experience. All in all, I had a great time educating myself and gained some new inspiration as to how art and music can be connected. I would highly recommend stopping in and exploring the plethora of stories, innovative art and ingenuity that exists within the gallery, even if you don’t think it will be to your tastes. As I said before, there’s a little bit of something for everyone, especially those interested in contemporary art and the science of music.
“Impossible Music” is on view from Jan. 16 to Apr. 20 at the Aidekman Arts Center, located at 40 Talbot Ave. in Medford, Mass.
