Learning to Un is an intimate exploration of what it means to unlearn and how the multifaceted nature of this subject has the ability to materialize through imagery and song. Tuning into both cerebral and bodily responses to sound and colour, we see how our vulnerabilities and subjectivity to change informs the process of creation. 

With light and gratitude, enjoy

Shëbåd and Charity Mae Beatrix

After our first meeting with our infinitely talented & unequivocally lovely Co-Create partner Charity, our discussion led us to reflect upon the joys of improvisation and process-based art. We mutually resonated with the theme of unlearning, and decided to deeply discover and unpack what this means to each of us through the process of working together. Charity began the unfolding of this idea based upon their own understanding and experience of unlearning, and we in turn built off of the piece that arose from them (the beginning of a call and response exchange). Learning to Un, the song that emerged, was written and recorded over the course of 3 days; a time based project that is different from our usual approach to music making that is typically unconcerned with time. We dismantled and shifted our usual compositional roles, and with the added challenge of learning new tech, beginning proved to be quite frustrating and uncomfortable. But it was this tension that allowed for barriers and blocks within our own musicianship to come forward, be faced, and broken (we quite literally started the project by screaming into a microphone out of frustration). It became clear through this experience that learning and unlearning occur simultaneously.

Once the tune was assembled and cared for, we sent it off to Charity. The second half of the project still held the intention of unlearning, however, we allowed the absence of structure and form to dissolve away any inhibitions. Improvisation and presence replaced planning and reflecting, and each of us responded to each other’s work with no expectation or preconception. In thinking less, feeling more, and letting natural responses to colour and sound guide the way, many heart opening challenges, discoveries, and connections were made. We are extremely grateful for this experience and for the passion, commitment, and love of all those involved. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Meeting with Shëbåd for the first time was simply magical. It is difficult to fully describe but it felt like we were able to share and communicate our ideas and passions with one another so seamlessly and effortlessly, ebbing and flowing into this deep dive of what it means to “unlearn” and how we wanted to document the whole journey and process of unlearning. We chatted about the possibility of discomfort, frustration, and challenges in the beginning, and truly experienced this as we started to create our own interpretations of how unlearning presents itself visually, and aurally. I initiated this process-based work by creating a painting with oil paints. Entitled “Muni-muni” it challenged me to have patience and sit through more detailed and deliberate work, which for myself is a huge first step in re-realizing patterns that no longer serve me, I had to sit with it. Much like the actual process of unlearning, creating this painting was brutal, and challenged my tolerance, and technical skill. I had created this painting based off of thought and perception, rather than letting my intuition guide me. I’d never planned a painting this much up until this point, and from that emerged a sacred image and symbol of cyclical growth that never ends, continuing to grow beyond its source, beyond what could be imagined. An unlimited fountain of potential. This painting was then given to Shëbåd when they then wrote a song in response:Learning to Un. To continue our vision to unlearn, I then created a painting in response to this song, but only painted the first time I listened to it. In the process of creating this new painting, I started off with a grounding meditation, to fully ensure that this work would be purely feeling and body-based. I listened to their song over 3 times (first for the base layer, and two more times for detail work), and let it guide my body to create a work based off of pure reactions and feelings in that moment in time. I temporarily discarded everything I ever thought in aesthetics, placement, if anything was too much, and just went for it, full dive-in. I moved free of constriction and full of flexibility as I created this work entitled “Silakbo”**. From there, Shëbåd had recorded an improvised piece in response, and in totality, we cultivated and synthesized a journey of deconstruction and rebuilding. For my absolutely wonderful, idea-filled, creative, fun-loving and free-spirited pals (Shëbåd) I am truly happy we were able to create this vulnerable and incredible project. For those who will be witnessing it or have already, I extend my deepest gratitude for your attention and time into something that I’ve artistically explored for the very first time.

* Muni-muni means to contemplate or think deeply

** Silakbo translates to an emotional outburst