Sedje Hémon : method of integration

 

Sedje Hémon was known for being a pioneer of interdisciplinary practices. Her “Method of Integration” developed between 1957-1965 was a theory that aimed to integrate all art forms. One of her discoveries was finding a way to “extract” sound from images. This method consisted of placing a pitch grid onto the painting and extracting data that was then used to compose a musical score. Harmonie was one of the first scores she made using this systematic approach. It was performed in The Hague in 1964. It is symbolic that the piece would come back with a new performance by Ensemble Modelo62 in the framework of an interdisciplinary program involving a composer and artist from diverse backgrounds. https://www.modelo62.com/sedje-hemon

http://sedjehemon.org/harmonie/

 

 

 

With the exhibition ´abstracting parables´ of Sonsbeek 20→24 in het Stedelijk in Amsterdam Sedje Hemon´s work is put in the context of labor and translation. In this case maybe the translation of a linocut with a gestural drawing of two closed lines into sound. The use of the grid gives the impression of an automatic mechanical analogue translation of line to sound but the work of translation- that is- the interpretation of the data, the choice of the body that will be the medium and the way it is (re)programmed to connect the data to its sound producing organs and the context in which it is presented is what i think makes it meaningful 

 https://www.sonsbeek20-24.org/en/artists/sedje-hemon/ 

https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/evenementen/sonsbeek-talks-thinking-relationships