Synopsis

​ Brilliant A explores the history of how the note A (la) came to be tuned at 440 Hz, the standard for tuning most modern instruments, including orchestras, and how it is constantly being pitched upward by the human auditory preference for a brighter sound. The transportation process is recreated based on an early 20th-century historical account written by an American missionary about the first piano brought to Daegu, South Korea. Through this reenactment, the work examines the symbolic significance of the introduction of the Western piano to Korea as a “cargo” of A notes.

Program Note

​ Kim Young-eun's music films possess an inherent experimental quality that defies easy categorization within traditional cinematic boundaries. However, it is crucial to prioritize a musical discussion over evaluating their experimental nature, as these films showcase the director's professional expertise. This approach renders them particularly resonant for audiences deeply immersed in the realm of music. The film delves into the introduction of the piano to Samunjin in Daegu, exploring the historical debates surrounding standard musical notation. The imagery adeptly captures the piano's journey, evoking a nostalgic sense of time travel to the early 20th century. (Lee Yongcheol)

Director

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  • Kim Young-eun
  • Kim Youngeun's work examines the history of sound, focusing on how the history of modernization and colonialism has shaped our aural perception, centering around Asia and the Asian diasporic community. She was an artist-in-residence at Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Film and Digital Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has been shown at the Museum of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland; Samsung Museum of Art, Korea; National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea; Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, USA; and many others. Kim Youngeun is a recipient of the Prix Ars Electronica and SongEun Art Award.