Immersive, 28-minute looping art installation exploring extinct languages from around the world.
Herrick Chapel on Occidental Campus.
Last Whispers is an experiential, immersive work dedicated to the extinction of languages - an extinction of linguistic and cultural diversity that occurs through silence. It sounds what has gone silent through layering recordings of speech, recitatives, incantations, songs and ritual chants from languages that are extinct and endangered, with sounds from nature and outer space frequencies (made audible), and abstracted visuals. While we drown in the noise of our own voices—uttered within dominant cultures and languages—we are surrounded by a vast ocean of silence. MAC Professor Amanda Tasse collaborated with Director Lena Herzog to build the visual world of Last Whispers, and animated it.
A front view of the immersive, looping 28-minute projection will be screened in the Chapel with surround sound. Drop in Saturday or Sunday from 11am - 6pm to experience the installation. You can visit OXY ARTS at 4757 York Blvd before or after to view the Invisibility: Powers & Perils exhibition.
Special Panel Discussion and Q&A
Saturday, October 5 | 5 PM
Oxy MAC Professor and project Art Director Amanda Tasse will join VR/Technical Director Jonathan Yomayuza, Oxy Linguistics Professor Mariška Bolyanatz Brown, and Oxy Cognitive Scientist Sasha Sherman for a panel discussion and Q&A. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Herrick Chapel by 4:30pm to experience the entire work before the panel discussion.
Director/Producer: Lena Herzog
Art Director, Animator: MAC Professor, Amanda Tasse
VR/Technical Director: Jonathan Yomayuza
Sound Composers: Mark Mangini, Marco Capalbo
