*The Programme of Research

3.1 Title of the proposed investigation:
Translating the lines - An installation project

3.2 Aims of the project/investigation:

To explore the common features of the way in which lines behave in Persian arts through the medium of interdisciplinary installation

(e.g. calligraphy, painting, architecture, artefacts, music, dance and poetry)

Primary aims:

To investigate, identify and illustrate the common origin of the visible and invisible lines in various Persian art formats.

To create a series of installations/performances that express the common appearance and expression of the visible and invisible lines through such techniques as stylisation, metaphor and analogy.

Major Sub-aims to MPhil and PhD

To MPhil:

1. To investigate the organic nature, appearance, and the style of progression of the lines across the axis of time and space in Persian artistic formats.

2. To investigate the contributing factors to these developments and manifestations in the Persian culture particularly in the area of gender and identity.

3. To compare this with other cultures - Far, Middle and Near East and European.

4. To investigate the possibility of using contemporary performance practice as a means of presenting my findings.

To PhD:

5. To explore the potential of contemporary installation techniques for the expression of line.

6. To bring all of these findings and methods of expression s together into a single installation, using multiple media

3.3 Proposed plan of work, including its relationship to previous work, with references. Please set out your research to date with key references, how the stated aims will be achieved, the methodology, and the expected outcomes. Please do not exceed 750 words, excluding any lists of references.

In completing this section, and in planning the progression of your work, you should be aware of the distinction between the levels of study and achievement required for the MPhil and PhD stages of your research programme. For a fuller explanation of the difference between MPhil and PhD, please refer to Paragraphs 5, 6, and 7 of the Code of Practice for Research Candidature and Supervision.

The context for this work is the field of art installation that is evolving out of my previous works (Farid 1995a&b, 1997). I am a multimedia artist, singer, dancer and performer, producing art films (Farid 1994a&b, 1995a, 2003-07), music albums & audio books (Farid 1998, 1999, 2000a, 2000-03b, 2003-06a, 2006b, 2006c). These have provided me with an interdisciplinary insight, confidence and ability to choose the most suitable medium that could be the best to express a given theme.

I have also worked with a master of Persian traditional music, Dr Djalal Akhbari (2000-3b), (Karimi 1973), (Davami 2000); I have worked and performed with Persian composers whose style is regarded as a bridge between eastern and western music (Omran 1993-96), (Bashari 2006a). I have studied Jo Still’s methods and vocal techniques (Still 1996 &1997a-b) for a period of three years with Gillyanne Kayes (Kayes 2000).