R A N G K Ą
R A N G K Ą is an ongoing sonic-sparks between Ariel William Orah and J“Moong” Santoso Pribadi. Both raised in Bandung and Yogyakarta Indonesia and now both based in Berlin-Germany and Vilnius-Lithuania. The duo’s sparks are driven mainly by the mutual needs of an artistic expression from their shared experience as a migrant father and struggling translocal sound artist in Europe. Their main and most recent presentation format is an experimental sound performance when they blend various sound techniques and artistic strategies from self-made instruments to diverse electronics and synthesis cosmos, from live improvisation to structured pieces, all fueled by their diasporic-dialogue on seeing and valuing things.
The two firstly met during CTM Festival 2020 where Moong headlining the Festival with his band Raja Kirik and Ariel did his sound residency at CTM Music Maker Hacklab and performed with his artist group Soydivision. From then on they have been involved with various collaborative project such commissioned music theater pieces for Ballhaus Naunynstraße Decolonial Frequencies Festival, KAUM Festival 2021, and the most recently “Leftover Klangwerk”, a socially engaged sonic art creation project in the form of participatory workshop and collective improvisation performance. The title inspired from the English word “Leftover” refers to waste, and German word “Klangwerk” which means “sound creation”. Inspired by circular design/upcycling methodology, both workshop and performance will introduce and invite the community to channel a form of freedom in the form of sound through the sound-making object, without the limitations of conventional music.
Click here for audio excerpts from their performances in Vilnius
Click here for live recording of their Leftover Klangwerk in Berlin
R A N G K Ą - The initial thought
The project was inspired by the Lithuanian word "ranką" and the Indonesian word "rangka". They are similar in meaning, as both can be translated to mean "frame" or "skeleton" in English.
In Lithuanian, "ranką" specifically refers to the arm : frame or structure of arm including bones, muscles, and tendons, whereas "rangka" in Indonesian can have a broader meaning, referring to the frame, rigid structure supporting other parts, or skeleton of anything from a machine or building to an animal or person.
In this sense, "ranką" the arm, as a symbol of strength and resilience, can be used in our artistic expression to express the (shared) challenges that we faced. Similarly, the "rangka" or framework of a figure in our artistic expression can represent the structure and support needed from each other to navigate the difficulties of life as a migrant.