Resynthesising the Traditional is a multi-year thematic thread that evokes resynthesis – a processing method in computer music that analyzes sounds to extract their fundamental components – as a guiding metaphor to confront conservative views of culture as something frozen, thus resistant to any transformative practices. It responds to resurging interest among artists in reconceptualising sonic and cultural heritage through a critical contemporary lens, in part driven by shifts in understandings of identity and histories, and global crises of belonging.
When does something become a tradition? Who defines it, who belongs within it, and why? How do traditions remain recognisable? When do they change into something completely new? How are traditions governed? What are their restrictions, why do these exist, who breaks them, and why? How can we work with the repeated flattening of histories to suit dominant voices, instead finding echoes of buried pluralities within the traditional? These are only some of the questions that motivate this thematic line of inquiry.
At the heart of this thematic thread is the namesake artistic lab, which this year takes on a sub-theme »At the Extreme.« Commissioned works, concerts, discourse inputs and other formats continue to expand the discussion around traditions with each edition. Numerous CTM Magazine articles can be found online using the »Resynthesising the Traditional« keyword, with new contributions published for this festival edition.
Co-curated by Stas Shärifullá and CTM Festival.