June 30 2025

Hardi Kurda

The KCAC artist residency offered an opportunity to explore the intersection of sound, community, and cultural preservation. As a sound artist, my time in Ranya was not only a creative exploration but also a deeply personal experience of connecting with people, their stories, and the hidden sounds of their environment.

 

The residency’s structure was thoughtfully inclusive, encompassing a collaborative workshop, a sound installation within a photo exhibition, and meaningful discussions with the KCAC team. These components intertwined to form an artistic ecosystem where sound became a vehicle for discovery and connection.

 

 

Workshops and the Sound Installation

The workshops were a vital part of the residency, where I shared techniques in field recording and live electronic performance. Through this exchange, the participants were encouraged tolisten in new ways—uncovering electromagnetic signals, underwater resonances, and even the gentle breath of trees. This heightened auditory awareness allowed the community to engage with their surroundings more intimately, fostering a deeper appreciation for the soundscape of their region.

 

The culmination of the workshop was the radio installation, which was in collaboration with the photo exhibition Being Lost by photographer Shamal Hisamaldin, curated by Niga Salam. The convergence of visual and sonic art created an immersive environment where the audience could experience listening to the stories of their lost family through the radios. The exhibition space became alive with the echoes of local life, natural elements, and unheard sonic phenomena through radio frequencies, inviting visitors to reflect on their relationship to place and memory.

 

 

The Role of Radio in the Sound Exhibition

A crucial element of the sound installation was the use of radio as a storytelling medium. Integrated with the photo exhibition, radio frequencies became a tool to communicate audience stories, blending voices, ambient recordings, and fragmented broadcasts into a dynamic narrative. This approach was deeply personal to me, as my own journey to Europe was marked by an acute awareness of radio’s pivotal role. During my illegal journey, radio frequencies were not just background noise but a lifeline—a means of navigation, survival, and connection. Through this exhibition, I sought to highlight how radio can serve as a bridge between past and present, between isolated voices and collective experience. The audience could engage with these broadcasts as echoes of migration, displacement, and resilience, allowing them to experience the power of transmitted sound in shaping personal and historical narratives.

 

 

 

Discussions with KCAC and Archival Possibilities

Engaging with the KCAC team sparked valuable conversations about how to compass and present archival materials. We explored various innovative methods, such as interactive technologies and computer gaming, to breathe life into historical materials. By bridging technology with tradition, the discussion with the KCAC team envisioned new ways to make cultural heritage accessible, dynamic, and relevant for everyone and especially for the younger generations.

 

The Understudied Power of Sound

Sound remains an underexplored medium in Kurdistan, yet it holds immense potential to bridge gaps between personal and collective experiences. Unlike visual media, sound can carry the nuances of presence, conveying emotion and atmosphere in an intuitive way. By amplifying the region’s soundscapes and oral histories, I created more empathetic connections, bringing distant stories closer to the listeners.

 

 

 

The Role of Residencies in Artistic and Cultural Development

Residency programs like the one offered by KCAC are vital for artists and cultural practitioners. They provide a dedicated space for experimentation, collaboration, and mutual exchange. For Kurdistan, expanding such initiatives could foster a thriving arts ecosystem where local and international artists exchange knowledge, contribute to community projects, and cultivate a culture of sustained artistic growth.

 

 

 

Collaboration as a Catalyst for Change

The residency highlighted the transformative potential of collective efforts. The interaction between sound, photography, curatorial practices, and community engagement demonstrated how interdisciplinary collaborations can enrich the cultural landscape. By fostering partnerships between artists, institutions, and communities, we can build a more vibrant and inclusive artistic scene in Kurdistan.

In reflection, the KCAC residency was more than an artistic endeavor—it was a testament to the power of listening. Listening to each other’s stories, to the environment, and to the resonances of the past. These acts of listening, amplified through art, can nurture a more connected and compassionate society, where cultural heritage is not only preserved but continually evolving through shared creative expression.

This residency has left a permanent mark on my practice, inspiring me to further investigate how sound can act as a conduit for collective memory and social dialogue. It is my hope that this experience will encourage more artists and cultural workers in Kurdistan to explore the sonic dimensions of their work and that platforms like KCAC will continue to serve as fertile ground for artistic discovery and communal resonance.