Eri After Dark

Eri, After Dark

by Mary Sherman

Sound: Benoit Granier

10”x10”x6”

Ribbon, magnet, wooden box, ink on paper (doubling as a speaker membrane), motors, star LEDs, sound module, aluminum and microprocessor.

The piece takes painting into the concert hall. It was first 'performed' at the Beijing Central Conservatory, where it was brought on stage, like a present and then unwrapped: When the lid (an ink painting, whose paper support doubles as a speaker membrane) comes off, it activates a microprocessor, motors and LEDs inside the box.

The box’s flaps then open, also triggering an enclosed sound module, which plays Benoit Granier’s “Eri, After Dark.” Once all the flaps are opened, the box’s contents - an intense, Pandora like light – is revealed. The piece then continues to transmit Granier’s work through the ink painting/speaker until the next-to-the-last flap closes. Afterwards, the final flap closes; and, the piece is carried off stage.

“Eri, After Dark” is inspired by Murakami’s novel of the same title, in which Eri is lost between two worlds - the real one she is trying to escape and the fantasy one where she is imprisoned within a television.

Technical Consulting: George Bossart & Kathy Patterson