The possibilities of distance
2021. Elisa Schmelkes and Emilio Chapela. Parabolic mirrors and live performers. As presented in Museo Casa del Lago, Chapultepec. CDMX
This project is a collaboration between Elisa Schmelkes (choir director and composer) and Emilio Chapela (visual artist) that proposes a creative way to rediscover choral and sculptural practices through intimacy and acoustic attunements.
All photos by Rubén Márquez
Choral practices and other forms of collective singing have been deeply threatened by the COVID19 pandemic. In response, this work aims to foster our notions of intimacy to overcome social and affective isolation.
We designed a series of six acoustic mirrors arranged around a circumference, which amplify the performers’ voices to coincide in a focal point, where the listener can have an intimate and profound experience while maintaining physical distance. The listeners move around the space experiencing various intensities.