Sistrum
Part1: performance at Niobidensaal
Black Land – Performing Memory: Performances and Installations at the James-Simon-Galerie and Neues Museum on 21 and 23 July 2022
Part2: performance at Betonhalle, Silent Green.
The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text that is believed to have been written between the 16th and 11th centuries BCE. It is a collection of spells, prayers, and hymns that were intended to guide the deceased through the afterlife and ensure a successful transition into the next world. The book was primarily written on papyrus scrolls and placed in the tombs of the deceased.
The Book of the Dead is also known as "The Book of Coming Forth by Day" or "The Book of Emerging Forth into the Light," which reflects the belief in the ancient Egyptian religion that the deceased would rise again in the afterlife and emerge into a new existence. The book was not a single, standardized text, but rather a collection of texts that were customized for each individual based on their social status and personal beliefs.
The Book of the Dead was written in hieroglyphics, the ancient Egyptian script that used pictures to represent words and ideas. It was illustrated with scenes of the afterlife, including the weighing of the heart ceremony, in which the deceased's heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and justice. The book also contained spells and prayers for protection from dangerous creatures and obstacles that the deceased might encounter on their journey through the afterlife.
The spells in The Book of the Dead were believed to have magical power and were meant to be recited by priests and mourners during the funeral procession and burial. The spells were also intended to be recited by the deceased in the afterlife to help them navigate the challenges they would face. The book was considered essential for the journey into the afterlife, and many people went to great lengths to ensure that it was included in their burial.
In addition to its religious significance, The Book of the Dead has also been of great interest to scholars and historians. The book provides valuable insight into ancient Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife, as well as the culture and society of the time. The book also offers a unique glimpse into the art and language of ancient Egypt.
What was discovered in the Elephantine papyri - documented historical information from ancient social eras - became clear to me in the papyri dating back to the Book of the Dead. I have been researching this for years, in order to compose sounds based on the Arabic translation of the original transcript, as well as the conceptual references uttered in the text.
“You are not the only one God created in this world, but you are the only one God created in my heart” from Akhenaten to Nefertiti
You are listening to history, hearing the ancients speak. Give it your attention.
It is the pressing desire to hear what those who went before us wrote in their papyri.
This desire drives my passion for converting text into sounds. Even though our current knowledge of the exact pronunciation of ancient languages varies. At that point, I am recording the translations of the ancient words into Arabic and trying to let the text speak in its verbal form. At the same time, I convert the text into sounds that are composed of the meanings of what is written.