Program Notes

Brutal Mirrors investigates the distortion of symmetry through reflection, exploring the flexibility and elasticity of structures, and delving into the evocative nature of memory. The inspiration for this piece comes from Brazilian photographer Mauro Restiffe's work titled "Brutal Mirror," showcased in the exhibition Post-Soviet Russia 1995/2016 at Moscow's Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. In Restiffe's exhibition, the juxtaposition of past and present in Moscow and Saint Petersburg's architecture highlights the influence of memory and history on the present moment.

In Brutal Mirrors, I incorporate fragments of older compositions strategically hidden within various sections, thus bringing the notions of memory and time into focus. Drawing from Restiffe's photograph, where a symmetric building appears fluid and distorted when reflected in water, the music carves a continuous and fluid thread that connects recognizable elements and textures through a temporal trajectory that is often disjointed and non-linear., However, the goal is ultimately to evoke a sense "line" and connection amidst a highly subdivided, complex,  and self-similar musical canvas.

— Felipe Lara