Hardi Kurda is a sound artist, violinist, improviser, composer, researcher, founder and curator of SPACE21 Sound Gallery (Slemani) and Archive Khanah, he fosters international collaboration and sonic archiving in Kurdistan. Hardi is a visiting researcher at Goldsmiths and the University of Sulaimani, a jury member for the Gaudeamus Award, a co-researcher at the University of Geneva, and a former jury member for the Swedish Art Council. His works defy the boundaries of music and sound through his evocative interplay of suggestive, unconventional sounds, unexpected silences, and textured noise. He includes interactive approaches to his works such as the interactive radio antenna where he explores noises that may have been considered illegal, abandoned, unheard, invisible, broken, distorted, untold, forgotten, or simply noises from nowhere, without a place or destination. Through using radio frequencies as sound material, Hardi bridges the physical and metaphysical, turning ephemeral signals into interactive performances that he developed the concept of The Found Score to connect noises deeply with audiences to create Urgent Listening where listening became a force of necessity based on his listening’s experience when he illegally moved to Europe. His practice spans classical acoustic composition, electronic music, and interdisciplinary pieces where sound merges with other art forms to create transformative listening experiences.
Hardi’s work receive attentions and commissions from festivals, Universities and venues across Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa such as PRS New Music Biennial in the UK at South Bank Center, Another Sky Festival,Shubbak Festival,Café OTO, (London), Sound Argument at Leiden University and Orpheus institute (Ghent), Tarkib (Baghdad) University of Santa Barbara (California),Sonorities Festival (Belfast),Borderline Festival(Athens), andMaerzMusik,Soundings ADK (Berlin),Nomos Museum (Gdansk), Reproduction (Goa),CHR (Cape Town)Irtijal festival (Beirut). He has been granted various residencies and grants includingBeyond1932 (London), LeGuessWho? Festival (Utrecht),Radio Art Residency (Halle, Germany), Swedish Arts Grant Committee,Melos Collective (Vilnius). His recent solo albumRadiola Springs. VGR Culture Grant in Sweden described him as… “Hardi bridges diverse musical traditions with socially committed compositions that blend electro-acoustics and chamber music, enriching the classical repertoire for our times.”
As the founder and curator of SPACE21 Sound Gallery, Hardi has transformed the Kurdistan Region and across the country into a hub for sound art and experimental music since 2017, organising festivals, archive projects, workshops, research projects, Label and publications and networking with the international festivals, organisations and venues. SPACE21 is a partner with Sonorities Festival in Belfast, Irtijal in Beirut, Breach in Nicosia, LeGuesWho? in Utrecht and Listening Biennial.
Hardi is a co-founder of Duo Moment with the cellist Khabat Abas and released albums “Broken Resonance” and “Illegal Performance”. His solo album Radiola Springs which broadcasted on WaveFarm radio programme show, further exemplifies his exploration of the sonic frontier.
Official website visit, hardikurda.com
