Nathan Thomson

Esittely

Lecturer and Programme Leader for Global Music

MMus (Master of Global Music), Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki

AdvCert, Performance and Communication Skills, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London

DipMus (performance) Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University, Australia

Tutkimus ja julkaisut

DOCTORAL PROJECT

Nathan Riki Thomson: Forming an Artistic Identity Through Collaboration in a Transcultural Context

Abstract of the concert series plan

The 5 concerts investigate the musical outcomes of intercultural communication, collaboration and newly formed artistic identities in a transcultural context by exploring different starting points and methodologies for transcultural arts practice. These include devising collaborative processes with musicians and other artists from diverse cultural backgrounds and the development of new approaches, techniques and sound manipulations for my instruments, inspired by interaction with diverse cultures during more than 20 years spent travelling and living away from my homeland of Australia, including 5 years living in Africa. Each concert features newly created music as an outcome of these processes.

Concert 1: Resonance, will take place in the Black Box, Helsinki Music Centre on 3 June 2016.

Abstract of the written thesis

This artistic research is undertaken from my perspective as an Australian born musician with experience of many years spent living in diverse cultural contexts. The main area of focus, therefore, is on the process of forming an artistic identity, which is not bound by one dominant cultural reference point but is informed, inspired and constructed of many diverse influences, through interaction with different cultures. In the broadest sense, this research falls under the umbrella of transcultural arts practice and draws on concepts such as third space theory and nomadism. Collaboration is identified as a key factor in this work and I examine how this process takes place within the context of working together with groups of musicians and other artists from different cultural backgrounds, and the effects of these collaborations on the group as well as my own artistic identity.