Studies of Air and Smoke: a framework

Presenter: Thiago Leiros-Costa (Milano / Verona, IT)

Abstract

In the context of the attention economy driven by tech and social media conglomerates, the rise of the “anxious generation”, and increasingly dystopian narratives, a cultural and neurobiological rewiring of our relationship to consciousness and to one another is underway. Educators, scientists and performers could work together to create hybrid formats that empower individuals to better navigate such a landscape. Here I present a track of interdisciplinary research and performance. Studies of Air and Smoke is a series of performance lectures where the main goal is to invite us to reflect on the nature of attention, consciousness, social interactions and our relationship to sound. It draws strongly from psychology, neurosciences, native-American spiritual traditions and Deep Listening. The work of Pauline Oliveros is a key reference as it proposes listening exercises and sonic meditations. The performance is also a framework to investigate the performative nature of artists vs. scientists.