I sit and worry about her is a musical improvisation experiment that explores an authentic artistic expression through neuroscience, technology and social engagement.
The author, after the “Flow Vertical” project, where she used the biofeedback system as inspiration for the new method of composing, has begun a new research, which requires EEG tools monitoring, as a crucial element for structuring music events. The working concept resembles an incessant and endless worry of mother for her daughter, presented auto-ethnographically by the author through the sonification of brain waves, a constant improvised caring song. A several months long research and the work development is realised in collaboration with experts from The School of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, and a music producer, and financed by the Center for the Promotion of Science.
The working concept resembles an incessant and endless parental worry, presented auto-ethnographically through the sonification of brain waves, a constant improvised caring song. During this collaborative event, 4 mothers are subjected to the immediate brain wave analysis through the EEG monitoring. The diagram provokes thoughts and emotions related to their personal relationship with their daughters, while the artist responds to the sonified reactions through an immediate improvisation that puts human body in the role of the mediator, while creating a new artistic expression and musical fantasies.
Acquired sound signals are being heard in the performative space, thus instigating an interactive communication. With the acoustic instruments, the artist responds to the sonified reactions through an immediate improvisation, that makes unpredictable sonic content from the EEG tool manipulated once again. Perpetual modification and mutual communication through the sound effects, that activates new possibilities in the sonic game among the participants, becomes a self-making musical piece. The process of immediate composing is woven out of the live and dead elements, instrumental music, closeness, truthfulness, caring, love, fear and courage, putting human body in the role of the mediator, creating a new artistic expression and musical fantasies.
Jasna Jovićević - BA in jazz saxophone (Budapest), a MA in composition (Toronto); currently a PhD student in the Transdisciplinary Studies of Contemporary Arts & Media (Belgrade). She won several competition awards, artist residency scholarships, played with distinguished musicians, and released several solo albums. She has also worked in education. Her work is based on the interdisciplinary approach to musical improvisations, which includes neuroscience, ecology, feminism and social engagement.
