NetSoundArt for Tibetans, Chinese and Japanese: A threefold internet art piece by Wolf Kahlen in Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese languages.

Live and interactive, visitors of this site will hear a piece of world literature from one of these countries. In this work, the net is swept clear of the overload of images and the sound of the 'bush drums' is heard again. Visitors must be patient enough to explore the blank page, with the mouse in motion, as the sound of words are hidden in the background, like those on a book page. This playful action automatically turns out to be a game, since any move of the mouse touches another word. As a result, a number of audio events have happened before the underlying structure has been found out. The sounds of words overlap or entangle at random. He who stirs with the mouse produces a concert like a DJ.

The presented world classics are texts by Tibet's greatest poet Milarepa (11./12. Century), the Chinese Tang-Dynasty poet Li Bo (6.- 9. Century) and Kukai of Japan (who is the most commonly attributed as the author of the alphabet-poem). It is of political delicacy that Wolf Kahlen, who did a number of documentaries in Tibet and Mongolia since 1985, parallels Tibet with China.

The visitor of this site is either fluent in Tibetan, Chinese or Japanese or is attracted to these curious writings, since all three titles are written with each language's original characters. Possibly the first internet site featuring the Tibetan language, it is most likely frequented joyfully by Tibetans worldwide (and the few with internet access in Lhasa and other parts of the Snowland). The listening experience of these pieces, roughly translated as Sorry, Milarepa / Excuse me, Kukai / I beg your pardon, Li Bo, spans the whole spectrum between playful chaotic sounds, one word combinations, and fluently spoken classical pieces. Because these words bump into each other in a manner contrary to the structured language of the original pieces, Wolf Kahlen addresses the authors by titling each work as an apology to them. Each incarnation represents a democratic way of using words, demonstrating how words can be used as material.

These three pieces continue the artist's exploration of sound and literture, which began with English, German and Spanish language versions of the project.

Sorry, Mister Joyce / Verzeihung, Herr von Goethe / Perdone, Don Cervantes can be found at http://www.tu-berlin.de/~arch_net_art/1.html

In addition to presenting classical literature from various cultures, this project celebrates the differences among them. They kind of point out the polarization of the numb and speechless, generating psycho-esthetic feedbacks on net 'culture.' All the texts are usually read by native artists. More pieces in a great number of world languages are under construction. For all links to this project go to http://www.tu-berlin.de/~arch_net_art

Li Bo read by Zhao Zhao Kukai by Masuko Iso Milarepa by Tsewang Norbu Goethe by Wolf Kahlen Joyce by David Allen Cervantes by Argine Erginas

Stay tuned.

Edition Ruine der Kuenste Berlin http://home.snafu.de/ruine-kuenste.berlin ruine-kuenste.berlin@snafu.de

Contact Wolf Kahlen wolf.kahlen@tu-berlin.de