The Hangar Exhibition
In this work, we observe how Laith Al Essi uses the art of photography to create a piece of musical compositions. His approach can be described as a translation of visual information into auditory information, in an attempt to create a dialogue between these two forms of art
Laith Al Essi is an architect and multidisciplinary artist based in Amman and currently works with Sahel Al Hiyari Architects. Alongside architecture, he works with music, dance, photography, digital art and painting as forms of self-expression. Laith employs movement, energy, texture, and patterns as counterparts in his work. As a result of his varied interest in all disciplines of the arts, he composes music using rhythms and patterns that emerge from other mediums and integrates them into distinct constructs.
His exhibited work at the Hangar comprises pieces that were composed with the intention of capturing the spirit of a photograph through music. The photograph was taken in a construction site; it describes the layers, textures, depth of its subject, without fully revealing it, almost like an abstract composition with infinite meaning. A visual and later on an auditory feed were extracted from this: a grid of dots traced into a repetitive digital noise, which became the foundation for composing the pieces. It fades in and out throughout the composition to build up a nimbus of mystery. Infinitely melodic piano chords join the grid, drift with it, at times adhering and at times showing faint yet intelligible variation. Together they form a timely procession that traces back to -the meaning of- the image.
You can listen to Al Essi's Impressions 1, 2, and 3 on his SoundCloud account.
This track was played at the private opening event of Amman Design Week on the evening of August 30th, 2016.