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The objective of this collaborative project is to explore the multifaceted concept of "echo" in modern society, focusing on its influence on human perception across various realms, including social media, the internet, music genres, art forms, and political discourse. By delving into the intersections of technology, culture, and human experience, we seek to examine how our generation perceives and navigates the multitude of sounds around us, both physically and philosophically. Through a visually and musically immersive experience, our goal is to encapsulate the concept of echoes, prompting audiences to engage in critical reflection and dialogue about the profound impact of sound on our lives.
Jun An Chew expresses multicultural dimensions inspired by his upbringing in Southeast Asia. With a unique musical voice that seamlessly expresses my hybrid cultural identity, I seek to defy the boundaries of traditional artistic categorization. He embodies synergistic possibilities between distinct musical traditions, fearlessly exploring the limitless possibilities of a genuine multicultural artistic expression that transcends superficial imitation and offering impressions that invite listeners to savor its subtle flavors. His music spans a broad spectrum of ensembles and purposes, from pieces for the Chinese Orchestra and collaborations with traditional artists to music for Psilocybin research at Johns Hopkins University. In 2015, he won the Youth Prize in the Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestra Composition with Bale Bengong, a Chinese Orchestra piece expressing the Nanyang Style. In 2018, his voice and electronics piece Hear the Forest Sing was accorded second prize in the Prix d’Ete Competition, and later that year, he was conferred the Otto Ortmann Award in Composition. Jun An was appointed Composition Subject Leader and Lecturer at the Singapore Raffles Music College and subsequently appointed Module Leader and Industry Experience Leader. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Conservatory under the tutelage of Oscar Bettison, having previously studied with Law Wai Lun, Michael Hersch, Felipe Lara, Amy-Beth Kirsten and Jason Eckardt.
Jeehee Yoo is a Korean artist whose journey has spanned continents and cultures, shaping her distinctive artistic voice. Currently, she holds a multidisciplinary MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), where she received a Graduate Merit Scholarship. Jeehee's educational background is rich and diverse. Prior to her studies at MICA, she completed a Post-Baccalaureate in Painting and Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Before her time in the United States, Jeehee earned her BFA in Korean Painting, with a double major in History of Art, from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Additionally, she attended the Columbia Summer School in New York, further enriching her educational experiences and contributing to her multidimensional approach to art, blending elements of Korean tradition with contemporary perspectives. In her art, she blends Korean paper with recycled materials to explore time, space, absence, and presence. Repurposing discarded items symbolizes the passage of time and the void around us. Techniques like crafting paper pulp redefine past, present, and future, bridging reality and emptiness. Reflecting on East Asian negative space, she conveys ambiguity and evokes dreamlike feelings. Everyday objects symbolize identity and cultural essence, palpable only in absence.