Seon-ah Jo: Interdisciplinary Artist & Experimental Sound Performer

Seon-ah Jo is an interdisciplinary artist and performer whose practice fluidly navigates the spaces between traditional music, contemporary movement, and sound art. A graduate of the School of Korean Traditional Arts with a major in the gayageum, Seon-ah Jo utilizes her instrument not merely as a tool but as an extension of the physical body. Her project eco-echo serves as a platform for these explorations, highlighting major works such as 'La Plante Dansante de Désastres' and 'WayuSansu'. In her performances, she treats the physical gestures of playing and the resulting sounds as equivalent creative languages, effectively transforming the performer into a living instrument. By integrating field recordings and innovative techniques—such as allowing the wind from electric fans to resonate with gayageum strings—she creates immersive soundscapes that explore ecological themes and the multifaceted relationships between human and non-human beings. Her work often references East Asian philosophy, particularly the concept of pungnyu, where music arises from cosmic breath and natural flow. This approach challenges neoliberal concepts of productivity through ritualistic, repetitive sonic patterns that foster environmental awareness and 'momentary stillness'. Based in Seoul, Seon-ah Jo's contributions to the experimental music and performance scene continue to bridge the gap between ancient traditions and modern technological and ecological inquiries, offering new ways to perceive the sonic world.