Artwork Information

Commissioned by The European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017, Angelica Mesiti’s Mother Tongue is a cinematically beautiful 2-screen film and sound celebration of cultural music. As part of the intricate interweaving of new and ancient cultures coming together music, dance and rituals are shown to be entwined and enshrined examples of a cultural belonging and keeping that commence from the cradle and continue to the grave.

Mother Tongue creates a new musical and singing ensemble and community. One comprised of ancient and newer rhythms, traditional and different songs, demonstrating personal feats of balance, poise, individualism and collectivism. In various scenarios we encounter juxtapositions of musicality, movement and scenarios of place. Cultures meeting, blending, but with the frisson of slight disconnectedness.