AUUF/白鹤神牛 (2023 - present)

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AUUF is an improvisation duo, which is centered around the concept of

creating bridges between unfamiliar cultures through improvisation. By

embracing differences and fostering collaboration between different cultural and

linguistic backgrounds, the project promotes cultural exchange and mutual

understanding. It is an exploration of interconnectedness, flexibility of

language, and non-attachment through openness to new situations.

Tian Fu, the Chinese freestyle rapper, and Antuum, who creates beats from

scratch on a semi-modular synthesizer, come together to create a spontaneous

experience, through which, the rapper and synthesizer player focus on the

importance of being present and aware of the music as it unfolds in the

moment. This requires them to be open to new and unexpected directions,

rather than being attached to preconceived ideas or plans. Each performer is

both influenced by and influencing the other, but also allowing the space for

their own expressions creating a web of interconnectedness.

The rapper keeps responding to the improvised beat being created by his

counterpart. The rhythmic and melodic components of the beat dictate not

only the development of the rap flow in Chineses language (Mandarin) but also

the direction of storytelling, which may lead to an unexpected story or a

theatrical situation.

For the musician creating the beat on semi-modular synthesizer, the Chinese

language is perceived only as musical material, rather than semantic content.

This creates a space for openness and collaboration, where the musician is free

to respond to the development of the rapper's flow in a way that generates a

“feedback loop” of creativity and inspiration.

The rapper's flow and the musician's beat create together a rich and vibrant

musical experience, where unfamiliar language is not a barrier but rather a

creative tool that promotes collaboration and interconnectedness. A circle of

creativity between the two performers is built on the foundations of mutual

inspiration and cultural cross-language collaboration.

Conversely, the other performer is not influenced by the semantic component of

the Mandarin language, but rather by the musical components of the language.

The beat created by the second performer responds to the Mandarin language

improvisation, creating a feedback loop of creativity and inspiration.

Overall, AUUF highlights the potential for creating bridges between cultures

through the universal language of music and the creative expression. The

project demonstrates the power of music as a tool for building connections and

breaking down barriers. At the same time, it is also an artistic research project

that explores the potentiality of improvisation, the interconnectedness of all

things, and the importance of non-attachment and openness to new situations.

This project serves as a reminder that when we are open to new experiences and

ideas, we can create something authentic, something that speaks to the power of

human creativity and collaboration.