Private Project

Adrift

Video and Music by Salar Niknafs
Single Channel HD Video, Stereo Sound
Edition 1
Duration: 3:30

"We came whirling
out of nothingness
scattering stars
like dust
the stars made a circle
and in the middle
we dance"
- Rumi

The music of “Adrift” is a simple generative system, built around unsynchronized melodic passages to create a constantly changing wash in B minor. Electric guitar recordings are accompanied with field recordings and undercurrent drones to create a non-linear immersive listening that slowly drifts in and out of phase.

Video footages are of a ceremonial parade in Ubud, and a Pahlevani ritual at a Zurkhaneh (or Zoorkhaneh; English: “House of Strength”) in the historical city of Yazd, in Iran. Pahlevans are performing the whirling exercise (Persian: Charkh), which is believed to be derived from the Sama dance of whirling dervishes.

  • Salar Niknafs
    Director
  • Salar Niknafs
    Writer
  • Salar Niknafs
    Producer
  • Salar Niknafs
    Music
  • Salar Niknafs
    Concept
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Music Video, Other
  • Genres:
    Video Art, Music video, Experimental Short, Short Film
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 10, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • FILE – Electronic Language International Festival, Rio De Janeiro & Sao Paulo, Brazil
    Rio De Janeiro & Sao Paulo
    Brazil
    July 15, 2017
  • SPE Media Festival and National Conference, The Society for Photographic Education, Orlando, FL, USA.
    Orlando
    United States
    March 1, 2017
Director Biography - Salar Niknafs

Dr Salar Niknafs is a multidisciplinary artist, researcher and art director currently based in Melbourne. Working with photography, video, sound and music, in his art he primarily engages with experimental aesthetic forms. A keen advocate of art-science collaborations, Salar’s research explores concepts and methods at the intersection of art and science in an attempt to act as a mediator between the two.

Salar’s work is presented internationally in the context of conferences, workshops, music venues and exhibitions including FILE Electronic Language International Festival (Rio De Janeiro & Sao Paulo), Society for Photographic Education media festival and national conference (Orlando), Life Framer exhibition (Rome), Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert award finalists exhibition (Gold Coast) and Incinerator Art Award for Social Change finalists exhibition (Melbourne).

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