A Cross-Arts Collaboration
Tim Garland - Esra Kizir Gokcen
MOMENT OF DEPARTURE
“That Moment of Departure, from the known, the notated, towards something new is a shout of fearless freedom. The compositions on this album all have crucial and varied relationships with improvised music, from string orchestra to intimate trio, and completely free-form music. Classical influences and visual art have informed me, as much as my jazz heart.
"The series of paintings called Sail To Hope, by Esra Kizir Gokcen, provide a backbone of inspiration
for the first disc’s music. The subject of journeying into the unknown, as well as the influence of Turkish rhythms,
create the background atmosphere whilst maintaining the spaciousness and freedom for the jazz soloists.” Tim Garland
I have found the artwork of Esra Kizir Gokcen particularly inspiring, due to the bold use of improvised beginnings and free-flowing forms, underpinned by a rigorous technique. The first half of this recording was inspired by her “Art From Within” book of daily drawings and the “Sail To Hope” collection. Here, she addresses her own migrant story and illuminates the second meaning of “Moment Of Departure” in these detailed, soulfully eclectic paintings. In my music, I prize rapport with those around me a great deal, for it buoys us up on our musical journey of trust and risk, putting wind in our sails.
"The world’s oceans and seas can be unforgiving places, but it’s also the medium that many of the world’s refugees and migrants place their trust in as they try to find a new life where they can live without fear and oppression.
By fusing the images we see in the news cycle with inspiration from Asian miniature painting, given that most migration is from the East to the West, Esra Kizir Gokcen’s series of drawings capture both the daunting nature of the undertaking but also the hope that drives people forwards in the belief that we will see better days."
"Creating art that can be applied to global issues and our personal lives, Esra Kizir Gokcen's artworks are a beacon of hope in a world that can often seem dark and foreboding"
Tabish Khan - London Art Critic
