HOST INTRO: The Mishkin Gallery is a small organization on the Baruch College campus that has a goal to showcase art works of all kinds, from video to audio to traditional. Host and Baruch student Andriana Kourkoumelis is here to look more into the Mishkin Gallery’s newest installation, Who Speaks for the Oceans.
AMBI: Mishkin Gallery team preparing for a performance.
TRACK: It’s a rainy day out in mid-October and Miho Hatori is performing her commissioned audio-visual piece titled “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?” The Japanese artist and musician stands behind a clear screen as projections of whales and underwater scenes loop over her face and on the walls of the gallery.
AMBI: Spoken intro for the performance “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?”
TRACK: Recent Baruch graduate, Barkat Chowdury, took the course last semester that inspired this exhibit. The course, which was co-taught by Mishkin Gallery director Alaina Claire Feldman and professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences David Gruber, was a lecture focusing on environmentalism and art, in which he learned about the meaning behind the works to be displayed in this specific exhibition. He was asked to introduce Hatori at the live performance.
ACT: BARKAT: “I got excited actually because my final project was about music and how different songs and different sounds can be used to create a sort of playlist to help promote ocean conservation and get more in touch with the ocean, so I guess it just lined up that way but it was great to speak to Miho and learn about her creative processes.”
AMBI: The first part of “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?” by Miho Hatori.
TRACK: Hatori is a Japanese singer-songwriter known for being a soloist as well as co-founder of the New York City band Cibo Matto, and notably being the first voice of Noodle in the digital band Gorillaz. Her installation poses the question “What does it feel like to swim alongside a whale?” She mixed various recordings of whale vocalizations inspired by Roger Payne, Philip K. Dick and her personal experience offshore freediving.
AMBI: Fade up audio of whaling hymns
TRACK: Japanese Ondo whaling hymns can be heard in the composition of this auditory art piece alongside spoken poetic verses and layers of sounds. She says she hopes it will convey the feeling of being amongst these creatures.
AMBI: Whale noises sampled in “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?”.
ACT: MIHO: “Whales might be a very interesting creature to play with in the music as well, It’s the audience’s freedom on what they feel.”
TRACK: She emphasizes that listeners may have their own interpretation of her work.She hopes her sonic performance will spark an understanding of marine life among her audience, and create more awareness beyond our own humane environment. She created this piece because the many sounds of whales reminded her of a song.
AMBI: Middle section of “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?”.
TRACK: I spoke with one attendee and art enthusiast who has attended many Mishkin Gallery events. Former Baruch student Angelina Medina says she thought the artist did what she set out to do.
AMBI: Students walking around the Baruch College plaza.
ACT: ANGELINA: “Miho Hatori’s performance was a feast for the senses, both the twinkling lights and deep music radiating off the gallery’s walls caused the audience to ask themselves what do whales hear and what is their music.”
AMBI: Marine Series Vol.1-Mobula phantasmagoria
TRACK: Hatori has also worked on similar projects focused on marine life and conservation–including a charity campaign for EarthPercent, which provides a way for the music industry to get involved with the Earth’s ongoing climate emergency. What you’re hearing is a project called Marine Series by Hatori in collaboration with marine videographer Hassan Ali Khan that was released in April of this year. For each track sold £1.30 went to EarthPercent’s grantmaking program.
AMBI: Final section of “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?”.
TRACK: The exhibition Who Speaks for the Oceans? will be running until December 9th with Hatori’s video instillation “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?” on display at the gallery opened to the public. For Baruch College, this is Andriana Kourkemelis in Manhattan.
AMBI: Ending of “Do Whales Dream of Electric Human?”.