Earth is a she
Multimedia installation and sensory immersion (Greece, 2018). Composed of video portraits, sound design, and environmental orientation.
The subject of the installation, shepherdess Maria Makari, embodies the history of a land and the stories it holds. Video portraits projected into a space invisibly filled with the senses of the land that surrounds. Vocals represent a deep-spirited Indian Raga Jhinjhoti.
Earth is a she, video portrait (1:00 excerpt)
Earth is a she, video portrait (00:50 excerpt)
Earth is a she, video portrait (6:00)
The audio composition was created in collaboration with musician/composer/vocalist Prassanna Vishwanathan, features field recordings made in Naxos while accompanying shepherdess Maria Makari in her daily work.
The vocals represent a deep-spirited Indian Raga Jhinjhoti. This expression is called Alaap, and comes from the oldest living Indian classical music tradition, Dhrupad. This Sanskrit mantra, which translates the essence of this work, is: "Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Matru Rupena Sansthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah!" ["O goddess that resides in all the elements as the ‘Mother,’ I bow down to thee." ]
Composer and vocal artist Prassanna Vishwanathan. Curator, Mario Vazaios; Vice curator: Klaus Pfeiffer; Technical curator: Katerina Zourari. Additional acknowledgments: Audio post-production: Phil Moffa @buthchasound; Video editing: Katerina Zourari.