THE OTHE SIDE OF A MIRROR

Mike Block & Wu Man

This piece was originally conceived as a socially-distanced conversation across a cultural divide, mirroring the state of the world during the COVID-19 global shutdown. The story that unfolds is that of two people reaching across the digital divide and searching for a meaningful connection. Both the pipa and the cello bring their own original melodies/characters to this story, and they proceed to dialogue with each other, alternating accompaniment and melodic roles. The climax is when the Pipa finally plays the cello’s theme while the cello supports, signifying that a real connection has been made. The unresolved feeling at the end mirrors the wandering introduction, expressing the lack of clarity of our current moment. 

About Mike Block
About Wu Man
Back to Silkroad’s Artist Response Projects