Grant Recipient Details

Location
Bridgeport, CT
Project Title
A Ritual for Covid-19
Fiscal Year Awarded
2021
Grant or Program
New Work New England
Grant Amount
$12,450

Electric komungo performer and Guggenheim Composer Fellow Jin Hi Kim creates A Ritual for Covid-19 in memory of 400,000 deaths in the USA and 2 million deaths worldwide during the pandemic. The work, inspired by Korean Shamanistic ssitkimkut ritual that purifies the deceased spirit. Kim presents a live interactive performance on the world’s only electric komungo as she presents a range of projected images reflective of the coronavirus pandemic. A Community Covid Processional enters the performance space where a 100-yard white cloth is symbolically used in a shaman ritual to release the grief. This performance is in the spirit of healing of the apocalyptic years of 2020-21 created in collaboration with media artist Benton C Bainbridge and videographer Dustin DeMilio.

This project is funded through the Rebecca Blunk Fund, in memory of Rebecca Blunk (1953-2014).

Work Samples

On dark stage, lit by an eclipse-like orb, four dancers in all white perform in front of Jin Hi who plays a string instrument behind them.
photo courtesy of Jin Hi Kim
Jin Hi Kim plays the electric komungo, a long stringed instrument.
photo by Bleue Liverpool
Under a bright purple light, Jin Hi Kim plays the electric komungo, a long stringed instrument.
photo by S.O.O'bien