The Microphones / 2017
Nasir Malekijoo (Iran) / Runze Feng (China)

The Microphones investigates the visualization of sound, one of the most pervasive elements of daily life, transforming microphones into icons of auditory experience. In our chaotic modern world, sound often embodies both civic life and industrial forces, while music carries a dynamic voice rooted in history. By situating the installation at Musikhochschule Leipzig, the artists highlight the persistence of public spaces that preserve a connection to a pre-industrial, quieter past.

Crafted from wood—a material symbolizing speech and vocal expression—the microphones are arranged collectively, yet each faces a distinct direction, suggesting that sound radiates from every corner of the Musikhochschule. The interplay of ambient sounds surrounding the installation enriches both the public’s experience of the space and the conceptual resonance of the work. The piece establishes a dialogue between internal sounds of the Musikhochschule and the external urban soundscape, inviting reflection on the coexistence of serenity and chaos.

Stagnation (2015)
Nasir Malekijoo (Iran)

Stagnation presents wheels immobilized, one transformed into a square, challenging the inherent identity and function of the circular form. This radical shift symbolizes suppression, censorship, and the anxieties that distort individual or collective essence. The temporary sculpture embodies the tension between potential movement and forced stillness, reflecting broader social and psychological constraints.

The Countdown Timer (2016)
Nasir Malekijoo (Iran)

Installed in the lobby of Iranshahr Hall thirty days before the premiere of the play Rhinoceros, this interactive installation functioned as a visual countdown to the performance. Traditionally, countdowns mark major events or construction milestones; here, the piece transformed the anticipation of a theater opening into a public, temporal, and spatial experience. By engaging passersby, the work played with the notions of time, expectation, and collective awareness, turning a simple countdown into an immersive artistic intervention.