Translationality 

Sound Installation

​

Three speakers, three languages, one song. each speaker playing the exact same song, at the same time, only in different languages - Hebrew, German and Yiddish.

By walking around the installation, the three become one, a blend of languages in harmony. Pausing at the speaker allows you to hear each language in its entirety and solitude.

​

Entering the room, you meet a clash of cultures intervening and overlapping each other, while taking the time lingering over each speaker allows identifying its uniqueness.

 

As a foreigner living in the very same country from which my family fled just a few generations ago, i try to examine the boundaries of the different languages that make up this mixed identity - Hebrew, German and Yidish. Which raises the question: is my identity coming together or falling apart?

 

Link to the exhibition page, EDUCULT, MQ Vienna, 2021

https://educult.at/en/uncategorized/inbal-volpo

​

Vocals and Soundscaping: Esther Wratschko

Sound engineering: José Lopes

Yiddish Lyrics: Itzik Manger (Original, 1938)

Hebrew Lyrics: Naomi Shemer

Viennese Lyrics: Hans Breuer

Composer: Philip Laskowsky (as known)

​