Rojin Sharafi - Kariz (2021)

Kariz is an ancient, sustainable system - constructed 3000 years ago, to facilitate the collection of water.

‘‘These Karizes have been the source of life for me and all of my ancestors. They are now sick and if it continues like this, they will die in few years and if they die, I’ll die with them.’’ Said an old Mirab. You go through the corridors of Kariz to collect escape-time fractals and to preserve water. You are floating in the underground veins and corridors of your past, an early age.

Moss grew
In the corner of time
Where space passes by
Your mirror stage was spotlighted It made you blind
White sheets hide
Mosses and the dust of time
In your body, in your house

You pass through a stage, where an external image of your body reflected in a mirror produces a psychic response that gives rise to the mental representation of an “I”. A blinding spotlight is behind you and a mirror is in front of you. You can see nothing but unbearable light that reflects in the mirror. Your “Ideal-I” has been overexposed.

Kariz sonic experience is a search for a sustainable system of living together with your body, your ideas, your home, your past and your surroundings.

Kariz is about accepting your “Ideal-I” as a holobiont in your living environment -a mini nature-. The music was created in long improvisation sessions, while using live electronics (MAX MSP patches), analogue synthesizers, a self-programmed microtone sequencer with an irregular clock, two drum machines and acoustic instruments like santur and prepared piano. The instruments were processed partly live and partly in the composition phase.