Mohammad Tabesh

Hamkhaani: Singing Together

A sound installation

“Hamkhaani: Singing Together is an installation, consisting of five ceramic sound sculptures displayed in a group setting. Each piece has a unique human voice, singing a traditional Persian song. This installation is in reference to a religious read of Islamic laws in which voice is considered an extension of the body, and since a woman’s body should be veiled, so should be her voice. This policy is officially adopted by the Iranian government; therefore, Iranian women are not allowed to sing in public or perform in concerts, they cannot study under male singers, and are not allowed to teach men. This is clearly a form of censorship, social injustice, and violation of human rights, and a prime example of the unfair treatment Iranian women are subjected to. In Hamkhaani: Singing Together, I took inspiration from my personal experience as an amateur singer, taking traditional Persian singing lessons. I asked my teacher and classmates – all Iranian women - to sing “The Song of the Reed” Mathnawi by Rumi in mode of Shur. My teacher leads us, and line by line, we add our voices to the piece. Both the forms of sculptures and the voices singing through them emphasize on individuality of the artists; yet, their performance creates a feeling of togetherness, and their prominent open “mouth” conveys a sense of defiant. The Song of the Reed *Now listen to this reed-flute’s deep lamentAbout the heartache being apart has meant:‘Since from the reed-bed they uprooted meMy songs expressed each human agonyA breast which separation’s split in twoIs what I seek, to share this pain with you:Among the crowd, alone I mourn my fate,With good and bad I’ve learnt to integrate,That we were friends each one was satisfiedBut none sought out my secrets from inside;When kept from their true origin, all yearnFor union on the day they can returnIt’s fire not just hot air the reed-flute’s cry,If you don’t have this fire, then you should die!’* Translated by Jiwad Mojaddedi for Oxford World’s Classics”