Mira Calix
Observing. Discovering. Story Telling. Her Timeless Art
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Mira Calix is the nom de plume of an exciting artist born in South Africa, based in the UK, with a long radius of activity across continents. Her music has been performed by Bang on a Can in New York at the Lincoln Center. She has also collaborated with Alarm Will Sound and other US based musicians. More recently, the Sidney Festival presented her work entitled Inside There Falls attracting loads of attention by audiences and critics alike.
Mira, not Marie or Mara, is a self taught musician and award winning composer with a solid background in fine arts and dance. A romantic at heart with an easygoing, can-do attitude she laughs at how categorizing her work becomes difficult to answer at times. What she knows for certain is that ever since she can remember, she always wanted to make things or has made things. Naturally for her, an idea pops up, first, and finding out how to make it happen comes second. Mira Calix never had an issue learning and making new discoveries. In her words, “It can be frightening to learn something new, but it’s also exhilarating to figure out stuff and be a problem solver.” |
Photo: courtesy of the artist |
If the community of academics or funders find it difficult to deal with multitalented artists who express their ideas/thoughts in all sorts of mediums and venues, the public seems to be fine with it. Inside There Falls, as other works by Mira Calix, is an installation with an amazing visual aspect to it accompanied by music and choreography. It is open in character. It is so inviting, so dream like.
For Mira Calix, creating an event of this nature, in which all art forms intertwine organically, is simply thrilling. Part of her work process is unearthing new practices and putting together puzzle pieces that help her move forward. She is also very fond of the collaborative experiences with people from all walks of life, other artists, scientists, archivist, shipping company representatives, and everyone in between. She is the first to admit it, “There are teams of people behind each art piece. Artists are the team leader and creative force, all at once. They must have support to give life to their ideas.”
If the majority of artists are nomads by nature, some of them prefer the hermit lifestyle. Still everyone has to do a balancing act between introvert/extrovert realities. Modern artists wear many hats and juggle numerous jobs at once even when represented by major name companies.
Artists think, question, create. We, as human beings, crave art, although some have a hard time admitting it as being vital to our existence. The history of humanity shows that people started drawing and making music to tell stories. Telling stories and making connections is what we are all about. Our tastes vary, but our goal is the same; we want to be heard in our attempts to make sense of our existence.
The reality of a composer who is also a visual artist or a visual artist who is also a musician and a poet does not follow script. But it is remarkable, daring, and inspiring.
Mira Calix, a composer of new classical/contemporary music in addition to being trained in visual artist and ballet is different ball game entirely. We joked about the new music/new classical music/contemporary music terms that are oh so confusing. What is it? People ask and rightly so since even the music community has not made a final decision on it, yet. What we are serious about is the importance of art events and performances featuring works by living composers. Let’s support concerts with eclectic programming that are never predictable and take us on exciting new journeys. Experiencing works by Mira Calix is like diving in a world of poetry, soulfulness, and a visual fête of a kind. We are Mira Calix fans. You can become one, too…
For Mira Calix, creating an event of this nature, in which all art forms intertwine organically, is simply thrilling. Part of her work process is unearthing new practices and putting together puzzle pieces that help her move forward. She is also very fond of the collaborative experiences with people from all walks of life, other artists, scientists, archivist, shipping company representatives, and everyone in between. She is the first to admit it, “There are teams of people behind each art piece. Artists are the team leader and creative force, all at once. They must have support to give life to their ideas.”
If the majority of artists are nomads by nature, some of them prefer the hermit lifestyle. Still everyone has to do a balancing act between introvert/extrovert realities. Modern artists wear many hats and juggle numerous jobs at once even when represented by major name companies.
Artists think, question, create. We, as human beings, crave art, although some have a hard time admitting it as being vital to our existence. The history of humanity shows that people started drawing and making music to tell stories. Telling stories and making connections is what we are all about. Our tastes vary, but our goal is the same; we want to be heard in our attempts to make sense of our existence.
The reality of a composer who is also a visual artist or a visual artist who is also a musician and a poet does not follow script. But it is remarkable, daring, and inspiring.
Mira Calix, a composer of new classical/contemporary music in addition to being trained in visual artist and ballet is different ball game entirely. We joked about the new music/new classical music/contemporary music terms that are oh so confusing. What is it? People ask and rightly so since even the music community has not made a final decision on it, yet. What we are serious about is the importance of art events and performances featuring works by living composers. Let’s support concerts with eclectic programming that are never predictable and take us on exciting new journeys. Experiencing works by Mira Calix is like diving in a world of poetry, soulfulness, and a visual fête of a kind. We are Mira Calix fans. You can become one, too…
