Grace Sun Park

13th February 2025

Lecture Theatre, Royal Irish Academy of Music

Abstract;

This artistic research project initially began with self-examination of identity shaped by the experience of living in multiple countries and adopting diverse cultures that led to a complex sense of self. This developed into the research question of how I can convey my cultural dislocation through piano performance. Thus, this research is grounded in an autoethnographic approach and examines the intersection between subject of identity and avant-garde piano performance.

Over the last three years, I have been researching three avant-garde artists, John Cage, Nam June Paik and Margaret Leng Tan. I investigated how these artists challenged the traditional boundaries and opened a new method of performance practice that expresses their own identities. Through the research, I explored theoretical frameworks on identity in the context of performance art. As a result, I experimented with various approaches to determine the most effective way to convey my personal identity exploration. Particularly, I chose an interdisciplinary method of avant-garde piano performance that includes not only a piano, but also diverse instruments and production elements, such as harpsichord, toy piano, prepared piano, music box and recorded ambient sounds, to create unconventional sounds, different techniques and experimental experience.

This lecture recital will examine how interdisciplinary avant-garde piano performance can express and interrogate themes of cultural dislocation and personal identity. It will include the background information and unique musical ideas that influenced each composer to develop the unique creation on piano. In addition, each piece has been selected to symbolically represent fragmented aspects of

identity and reflects on a particular event of my life experiences. My aim is to perform these pieces to reinvent the role of a professionally-trained pianist, examining the themes of cultural dislocation and

personal identity and embracing a process of re-education and rebirth. As a result, I gain a new perspective as a performer, by revisiting past experience through the avant-garde piano performance and create an immersive artistic experience. This research has the potential to expand further to interdisciplinary performance where music intersects with visual arts, theatre and other combinations of art disciplines. As an artist who has a diverse background, I hope this study contributes to other artists in a global society.

Repertoire list:

G. Ligeti Musica ricercata no.1

H. Cowell Banshee(Piano string)

J-PH. Rameau Allemende from Suite in e minor(Harpsichord)

J. Cage Baccanale(Prepared piano)

G. Crumb The Blue Rider from Metamorphoses book 1(Amplified piano)

T. Twining Satie Blues(Piano + Toy piano)

P. Chen Carousel(Toy piano + Music box)

I poster-presented my artistic research at Trinity College Dublin.

I presented my experience of working as the first pianist Artist-in-Residence in Irish hospital ‘St, James’s Hospital Dublin.

Abstract:

This presentation features the interdisciplinary experiences of working as a pianist Artist-in-Residence at Creative Life, Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing(MISA) at St James’s Hospital Dublin, Ireland. This residency aims to explore and access new spaces for learning, engagement, and reflection through new innovative music-in-hospital experience series.

Unlike music therapy, this role focuses on creating a meaningful dialogue with hospital staff by inviting them to explore the relation between music and their work. The aim of this role highlights how music can foster a sense of community and reflection.

As a conservatory trained pianist and a doctoral student who researches avant-garde piano performance, this residency offers both challenges and opportunities such as writing reflective journaling, organising workshops with hospital staff, composing with hospital ambient sounds.

These push me to experiment in non-traditional performance contexts. This experiences embrace me to reinvent the role of performer in between artistic practice and hospital, while also shaping my identity as a pianist through interdisciplinary collaborations.

#Interdisciplinary #MusicInHealth

I am honoured to be invited as the first pianist Artist-in-Residence in Irish hospital.

With two of my colleagues(both Sopranos), we created Music in Health series, and presented the final concert at SJH MISA building.

I composed four original pieces that combines with everyday sounds in hospital that I captured from various places in hospital such as MRI lab, Canteen, ICU.