Thushara Haputhanthirige Don | ArtEZ finals

The project started as a book. I wrote it down because some experiences needed to be shared in words. Music is my first language. So I turned the book into a live music experience. I combine compositions, spoken words, improvisation and performance to create a space between memory and imagination. My own pieces like Faded Lullaby and 404: Memory Not Found explore my childhood memories, distance and searching for lost parts of myself. I combine classical Indian music with western classical traditions. I also include works by Leo Brouwer. His music reflects my connection to emotions, struggles and artistic change. The project also explores performance in a context. I do not want to present Asian music as something traditional or far away. Fly From Island brings it into a dialogue with classical music, meditation, digital sound and audience interaction. Inspired by the Netherlands artistic openness the performance creates an atmosphere where cultural borders become less fixed. At its core Fly From Island is not my story. It is a reflection, on displacement, memory, survival and our human need to be heard remembered and connected.