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Single-channel video with sound, two versions: 5:35” and 21 mins
Director: Jaewook Lee
Primary Costume Design: HAGAHI
Secondary Costume Design: Jaewook Lee
Interviewees: Dr. Tad Theimer, Dr. Gyungeun Oh
Flutes: Sohae Han, Kel-Minby Lima
Treatise on Rhythm, Color, and Birdsong is an experimental documentary film project that combines disciplines of ornithology, cognitive neuroscience, music, environmental study, and visual art. The purpose of this project is to re-interpret Olivier Messiaen, one of the most revolutionary musical composers of the 20th century, through the lens of neuroscience and visual art. Messiaen is best known for his unusual connections between musical and non-musical sources such as birdsong, synesthesia, and color theory. With the advanced technology in cognitive neuroscience, digital data visualization, and new exhibition strategies in visual arts, the project seeks a new artistic expression based on recent scientific evidence on sound-color synesthesia. The project provides a new interpretation of Messiaen by conducting unique cross-disciplinary research and offers new insights into the topic area.