Études Lab #1
4 - 6 April 2025
Woods / Yerevan, Armenia
The open call is closed
Partners
sound enthusiastic community
SEC is a community/space for creating, learning and organizing around sound. we do live events/lectures/electro jams and more. come and explore sound/listen/make music/get curious/build new connections.
you can find more info about SEC and how to join here:
https://secsec.space
SEC is a community/space for creating, learning and organizing around sound. we do live events/lectures/electro jams and more. come and explore sound/listen/make music/get curious/build new connections.
you can find more info about SEC and how to join here:
https://secsec.space
CYFEST
The International Media Art Fest CYFEST was founded by a group of independent artists and curators in 2007. Since its inception in 2007, CYFEST’s main concerns have been to examine the dialogue between various visual languages and technology cultures, and thus to explore a way of commoning with both art professionals and scientific communities. CYFEST unites artists, curators, educators, engineers, programmers, and media activists all over the world, and creates a platform for mapping, mediation, and documentation of new media art on different regional and international levels. CYFEST is is a nomadic cultural event: throughout the year, festival projects are presented at cultural institutions around the world. Each year, the festival program includes several exhibition projects, sound art, video and educational programs.
www.cyfest.art
The International Media Art Fest CYFEST was founded by a group of independent artists and curators in 2007. Since its inception in 2007, CYFEST’s main concerns have been to examine the dialogue between various visual languages and technology cultures, and thus to explore a way of commoning with both art professionals and scientific communities. CYFEST unites artists, curators, educators, engineers, programmers, and media activists all over the world, and creates a platform for mapping, mediation, and documentation of new media art on different regional and international levels. CYFEST is is a nomadic cultural event: throughout the year, festival projects are presented at cultural institutions around the world. Each year, the festival program includes several exhibition projects, sound art, video and educational programs.
www.cyfest.art
WOODS
What is Woods Center About?
The way we experience gatherings today isn’t just about finding a venue – it’s about creating something meaningful.
At Woods, we go beyond the ordinary to offer more than just an event space – we invite you into a setting where every gathering becomes part of a larger story.
Here, your event unfolds in a thoughtfully designed environment that blends modern functionality with natural elements. Whether it’s a corporate retreat, a creative workshop, or a milestone celebration, our spaces are designed to inspire connection, spark new ideas, and leave a lasting impression.
www.woodscenter.am/en
What is Woods Center About?
The way we experience gatherings today isn’t just about finding a venue – it’s about creating something meaningful.
At Woods, we go beyond the ordinary to offer more than just an event space – we invite you into a setting where every gathering becomes part of a larger story.
Here, your event unfolds in a thoughtfully designed environment that blends modern functionality with natural elements. Whether it’s a corporate retreat, a creative workshop, or a milestone celebration, our spaces are designed to inspire connection, spark new ideas, and leave a lasting impression.
www.woodscenter.am/en
Études Lab #1 is an experimental laboratory for sound artists, choreographers, and visual artists to collaborate and create. Over three days, participants will develop an audio-visual performance. The lab focuses on the intersection of disciplines, encouraging experimentation and new approaches to collective creativity. Participants will bring their ideas to life through collaboration, with the final works combining into a single piece that will receive a grant for further development and touring.
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Conditions:
- Accommodation is provided for participants traveling from abroad (outside Armenia).
- Meals are provided for all participants.
- Participants traveling from abroad are responsible for covering their own transportation costs.
- Performance space and basic equipments and materials are provided.
- Additional rider equipment is available upon request.
Goals of the Lab:
- Explore formats of collaboration between artists, musicians, performers, specialists, and diverse cultures.
- Conduct experiments through group and individual practices.
- Create audio-visual performances and determine their potential for further development.
Theme:
Traditions of the Future
The theme "Traditions of the Future" invites reflection on the role of hidden norms in our everyday lives while simultaneously exploring the invention of ethical structures for the future. On the one hand, it encourages us to consider which norms, taboos, prohibitions, and formalities should be abandoned immediately. At the same time, it raises the question of how to develop a non-dogmatic, flexible, and multifaceted approach to memory—how to shed obsolete frameworks without losing sensitivity or falling into epistemological paralysis.
As we challenge and test ethical structures, how can we avoid creating an individual who is perversely atomized, perceiving society solely from a consumerist perspective? What hinders our freedom, and what kind of freedom do we envision for the future? What can we do today to shape tomorrow?
"Traditions of the Future" allows for multiple interpretations and directions of thought. Here is another perspective:
We possess a certain tradition of thinking that we rely on when constructing the future. Much—if not everything—in our lives is governed by habit. We propose initiating a thought process directed toward the future but bypassing familiar images. As Merab Mamardashvili once said: "We must stop thinking in terms of a pre-existing world." Instead, we might consider creating the world anew.
There are many possible variations. If none of the proposed vectors resonate with you, we welcome your own interpretation.
Traditions of the Future
The theme "Traditions of the Future" invites reflection on the role of hidden norms in our everyday lives while simultaneously exploring the invention of ethical structures for the future. On the one hand, it encourages us to consider which norms, taboos, prohibitions, and formalities should be abandoned immediately. At the same time, it raises the question of how to develop a non-dogmatic, flexible, and multifaceted approach to memory—how to shed obsolete frameworks without losing sensitivity or falling into epistemological paralysis.
As we challenge and test ethical structures, how can we avoid creating an individual who is perversely atomized, perceiving society solely from a consumerist perspective? What hinders our freedom, and what kind of freedom do we envision for the future? What can we do today to shape tomorrow?
"Traditions of the Future" allows for multiple interpretations and directions of thought. Here is another perspective:
We possess a certain tradition of thinking that we rely on when constructing the future. Much—if not everything—in our lives is governed by habit. We propose initiating a thought process directed toward the future but bypassing familiar images. As Merab Mamardashvili once said: "We must stop thinking in terms of a pre-existing world." Instead, we might consider creating the world anew.
There are many possible variations. If none of the proposed vectors resonate with you, we welcome your own interpretation.
Program Format:
Day 1: Participants gather at the Hay Art Gallery for a three-day intensive. They meet, share ideas, and form creative teams. Themes for the lab emerge organically through creative tools and discussions.
Day 2: Rapid reviews of participants' sketches and artistic methods take place. Participants develop performance concepts, stage ideas, and engage in group discussions.
Day 3: Participants install, rehearse, and present their performances to an invited audience. After the laboratory, curators and participants will assemble the final performance, which will be awarded a grant for further development. Touring is organized by the hosq foundation.
Day 1: Participants gather at the Hay Art Gallery for a three-day intensive. They meet, share ideas, and form creative teams. Themes for the lab emerge organically through creative tools and discussions.
Day 2: Rapid reviews of participants' sketches and artistic methods take place. Participants develop performance concepts, stage ideas, and engage in group discussions.
Day 3: Participants install, rehearse, and present their performances to an invited audience. After the laboratory, curators and participants will assemble the final performance, which will be awarded a grant for further development. Touring is organized by the hosq foundation.
Language:
English
English
Who Can Participate:
Sound art:
Sound artists working with digital, electronic, or analog tools and computers; instrumental musicians, composers, vocalists, sound engineers.
Visual art:
Artists creating video art, light installations, or working with interactive technologies.
Performering art:
Choreographers, stage directors, directors, dancers.
Participation in the laboratory does not require pre-prepared performances. We are looking for artists willing to engage their skills (or experiment with new ones) in a live, co-creative process with other participants. At this stage, the process is more important than the outcome—"readiness" and "quality" take a back seat, making room for the establishment of new connections. The priority is exploration: a careful, attentive approach to the collective creation of a work.
Sound art:
Sound artists working with digital, electronic, or analog tools and computers; instrumental musicians, composers, vocalists, sound engineers.
Visual art:
Artists creating video art, light installations, or working with interactive technologies.
Performering art:
Choreographers, stage directors, directors, dancers.
Participation in the laboratory does not require pre-prepared performances. We are looking for artists willing to engage their skills (or experiment with new ones) in a live, co-creative process with other participants. At this stage, the process is more important than the outcome—"readiness" and "quality" take a back seat, making room for the establishment of new connections. The priority is exploration: a careful, attentive approach to the collective creation of a work.
Philosophy:
The theme of the lab emerges organically through the interaction process. This process itself is the subject of our exploration. We create a space for experimentation where disciplines intersect, and the outcomes remain unpredictable.
The theme of the lab emerges organically through the interaction process. This process itself is the subject of our exploration. We create a space for experimentation where disciplines intersect, and the outcomes remain unpredictable.
curators
- Tsolak Mlke-GalstyanCurator / Choreographer, Director, Art ManagerTsolak Mlke-Galstyan is an accomplished choreographer, director, and art manager with over two decades of experience in contemporary dance and performing arts in Armenia. As the co-founder and Art Director of Mihr Theatre, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the contemporary dance scene. Tsolak is also the curator of dance platforms and festivals, including the HIGH FEST International Performing Arts Festival. His works span choreography, stage direction, and art management, and he has led numerous educational and social-arts projects. Tsolak’s commitment to collaboration and cultural exchange has contributed to the growth of the contemporary dance landscape in Armenia and internationally, with engagements across Europe, the US, and the Middle East.
- Ilya MoshchitskyCurator / Theater DirectorIlya Moshchitsky is a director and founder of the independent theater company "Temporary Association Chronotope," with a diverse career in Armenia, Ukraine, and Russia. His works have been showcased at international festivals, including the Edinburgh Fringe, "NET" in Moscow, and "GogolFest" in Kyiv. Winner of the 2018 Breakthrough Award for "Best Director" and nominated for the 2022 Golden Mask Award, Moshchitsky's performances have been staged in cities like St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Berlin. In 2022, he relocated to Yerevan, where "Chronotope" continues to stage plays, festivals, and workshops in multiple languages.
- Sergei Komarov / Lidiia GriaznovaCurators / Sound ArtistsSergei Komarov and Lidiia Griaznova curate the sound art program at CYFEST and Cyland Audio Archive (CAA). Sergei Komarov is an engineer, sound artist, and curator. He co-founded the Kurvenschreiber band and works as a Max/MSP programmer for installations at CYLAND MediaArtLab. He has collaborated with Asymmetrique Answer and creates independent sound art. He currently lives and works in Yerevan, Armenia. Lidiia Griaznova is a curator and artist. She has been a managing editor and curator at CYLAND MediaArtLab since 2019 and holds an MA in Curatorial Studies from Bard College and St. Petersburg State University. Lidiia has curated exhibitions, book-based projects, and a special issue of Leonardo Journal. As an artist, she works with books as new media art. She currently lives and works in London, UK.
- Dima UstinovCurator / ComposerDima Ustinov is a composer, improviser, and electronic musician. He writes and performs music that can be described as ambient / neoclassical / minimalist. His personal music practice and research lies at the intersection of musical performance, meditative practices, and soundhealing. Big part of Dima's mission is to unite and elevate people through music. He has melted 20+ years of experience as a musician and 6 years as music coach into this project for public, teams and residences. It allows total beginners and experienced musicians to enjoy playing together instantly. Dima also works with 'augmented piano’- a combination of piano, complex FX chains and electronic instruments that can create lush and textural soundscapes.
- Misak SamokatianCurator / ArtistMisak Samokatian is an artist, musician and art-director. He has been involved in the field of interactive, kinetic and audio-visual installations since 2011. As an artist he works with light, sound, video, space and time. His works have been presented at True \ False Festival (USA), Burning Man Russia(RU), Synthspoium(RU, AM), Winzavod Centre for contemporary art(RU), Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art(RU), Proun Moscow(RU), Urvakan Festival(AM), Hay-Art Cultural Centre(AM), NPAK(AM)
- Anton ShchegolevCurator / Sound ArtistAnton Shchegolev aka ply tone is a musician, sound artist, sound designer, teacher, technostuff lover and sound enthusiast based in Yerevan, Armenia.
His interests lie not only in analog gear and modular synth systems, acoustics and soundscapes but also in exploring the transhuman relationship between society and technology. Inspired by Scandinavian folk high schools’ educational practices, Anton has been implementing social approaches in his teaching for over seven years.
As the founder of SEC (Sound Enthusiastic Community), he strongly believes that independence of thought raised by a never ending process of self-education and mutual support grounded in open reciprocity will help create unusual takes, serious fun processes, a collaboration over competition mindset and sustainable responsibility among sound creators and enthusiasts. - Alexander PlotnikovCurator / DirectorBorn in Moscow in 1995, Alexander Plotnikov studied film and theater before starting his career in 2019. His work—blending poetic and documentary styles—addresses post-memory and reparative aesthetics, as seen in his banned play “Aphasia,” which intertwined his Ukrainian grandfather’s tragic post-Chernobyl experience with Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” His productions, including “Lenin and the Children” and “Anna Karenina,” earned critical acclaim and multiple Golden Mask nominations. After the invasion of Ukraine, he remained in Moscow, creating five anti-war performances under censorship—works like “Hiroshima” and “The Red Book” became landmarks of opposition theater. Now in artistic exile in Armenia, he continues to explore modern theater, with his latest mono-play “Alpha Centauri” questioning Soviet triumph myths and the oppressive side of progress.
- Vardges SayadyanTechnical ProducerVardges Sayadyan is an accomplished professional in the live entertainment industry, with over two decades of experience spanning live sound and event production. His contributions to the live entertainment industry extend globally, where he has led technical teams for international festivals and events such as Burning Man, Urvakan , Sensor etc, while his educational initiatives have helped shape the next generation of professionals in local region.
- Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyanhosq Team LeadShoghakat Mlke-Galstyan is an arts manager, choreographer, and educator with over nine years of international experience. As Creative Director of Mihr Theatre, she has significantly contributed to Armenia's contemporary dance scene, blending performance and strategy to push artistic boundaries. Shoghakat holds an MA in Arts Management from Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography and has conducted postgraduate research at Zurich University of Arts. Her projects span Armenia, Europe, and the US, focusing on cultural policy, social art, and community engagement. Recognized with the Golden Medal from the Armenian Ministry of Culture, she is dedicated to bridging cultural gaps and promoting arts education.
- Andriesh Gandraburhosq Team LeadAndriesh Gandrabur is a Russian composer, sound designer, and educator specializing in sound art and sound design. He serves as the head of the "Sound Art and Sound Design" program at the Higher School of Economics' School of Design and teaches at the British Higher School of Design. Gandrabur has been involved in various artistic projects, including founding the DOS music production school and co-founding the music communications agency Main In Main. He has also contributed to theater productions, such as composing music and sound design for Marina Brusnikina's play "In Rings" at the "Praktika" Theater. In the film industry, his works include music for "Permafrost" (2023) and "Another Long Day" (2021). Previously, Gandrabur worked as a creative director at a major advertising agency and was actively involved in musical projects, including the band My Space Rocket and Dsh!Dsh!
- Andronik Khachiianhosq Team LeadAndronik Khachiian is an artist, curator, and art manager with a diverse educational background in design, advertising, acting, filmmaking, and contemporary art. He has curated exhibitions globally, managed creative labs, and organized festivals, with a focus on community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. Over the past decade, Andronik has led artistic residencies, fostering creative spaces for diverse audiences. His work spans visual arts, performance, and music, aiming to create immersive, socially engaged experiences. With his multi-disciplinary education and extensive experience, Andronik integrates creativity, experimentation, and emotional connection in his projects.
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