Ōki-sa
Cassette (as Jason Kolàr)
2024 / 36’min
Released by Dauw
Ōki-sa is an on-site collaboration with Tokyo-based artist Fumitake Tamura, developed during the fall of 2023. The recording seeks to capture a three-day intersection of language and musical miscommunication, while also reflecting themes of bonding and human connection.
The title Ōki-sa was a personal suggestion, representing a phonetic form of the Japanese word for "size." Fumitake found the use of macrons and hyphens—elements not commonly used in Japan—visually intriguing, which led to their adoption in the title.
Despite mutual admiration and acknowledgment to our previous works, the interplay of language and cultural disparities introduced a layer of complexity. The act of interpreting intentions, emotions, or even simple statements often becomes less about the other person’s reality and more about one's projections or preconceptions.
Language communication is inherently sophisticated and always subject to misreading and misunderstanding, even among individuals who share the same mother tongue. Unlike structured language, which benefits from defined grammar, vocabulary, and shared linguistic norms, sound-based communication often depends on situational interpretation. This makes it even more susceptible to miscommunication, as the intended message can easily be distorted or entirely lost in translation.
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