May 28, 2015
Al-Bustan Music/for PhillyVoice
Kinan Abou-afach and Ayman Alalao will perform at Painted Bride Art Center Friday, May 29.
Two local Arab-American artists are combining their creative powers for a special performance. "{De} Perception: Live Art and Music" will deconstruct art and the contemporary Arab-American experience Friday, May 29.
Syrian-born visual artist Ayman Alalao and Syrian-born cellist and composer Kinan Abou-afach present digitally created visuals using music. Throughout what's described as a "non-linear storytelling" performance, projected visuals will be generated through audio recognition of the live music and illustrations will be created live on stage. The performance, which will also feature musicians Hanna Khoury on violin, Hicham Chami on qanun and Hafez Kotain on percussion, will include themes of Arab history and heritage.
Abou-afach received the Pew Fellowship in the Arts in 2013 and Alalao studied at Philadelphia University. Their performance is brought to the Painted Bride Art Center by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture.
Before the night's main event, a reception and art demonstration will be free and open to the public. Al-Bustan teaching artists Thamer Dawood and Lisa Volta will lead demonstrations in Arabic calligraphy, drawing and an interactive photo booth.
