Yellow Wasabi, real name Linda Young, is a transdisciplinary biologist, researcher and artist. Born in China, with a bachelor's degree in ecology and a master's in neuroscience from France, she discovered experimental music in 2023, in particular Harsh Noise. She connects the Guzheng (a traditional Chinese plucked-string musical instrument) to effects pedals and Max/MSP programs. She innovates Guzheng performance by integrating electronic modules, a microscope, gesture control and interactive 3D projections. Active on experimental stages in Europe and Asia, she performs in contemporary art spaces and at scientific conferences.
ENG
Yellow Wasabi (Linda Young) is a biologist, researcher, and transdisciplinary artist. Born in China and holding a bachelor's degree in ecology as well as a master's in neuroscience from France, she discovered experimental music in 2023, particularly Harsh Noise. She connects the Guzheng (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) to effect pedals and Max/MSP software. She innovates in Guzheng performances by integrating electronic modules, a microscope, gesture control, and interactive 3D projections. Active in experimental scenes across Europe and Asia, she performs in contemporary art spaces and at scientific conferences.
THE PROJECT
Guzheng IIC: Innovative, Interactive, Connective
FR
The Guzheng is a traditional Chinese instrument whose richly resonant sounds are often mistakenly considered to be associated with feminine music or meditation, due to certain stereotypes. However, Yellow Wasabi wants to demonstrate that the Guzheng offers far more possibilities. Traditionally, Guzheng sounds are produced by the movements of the musician's fingers, fitted with false fingernails, and perceived by the audience. Yellow Wasabi proposes to transform this sonification method by replacing the fingernails with a microscope programmed in MaxMSP. She performs the traditional gestures of the Guzheng by manipulating a connected microscope, exploring a new approach to the instrument.
Yellow Wasabi also seeks to rethink the relationship between the Guzheng, the musician and the audience. In classical music, the audience is often a passive receiver. Yellow Wasabi wants to connect musician and audience via the Guzheng, using electronic modules capable of measuring physiological data such as heartbeat, body temperature or respiration. In this way, transmitters and receivers can interact in real time, giving physiological feedback when they hear the music.
Yellow Wasabi will play Guzheng using gesture control via artificial intelligence, interacting with sounds without physical contact, and create interactive visualization to provide an immersive experience."
ENG
The Guzheng is a traditional Chinese instrument whose rich, resonant sounds are often mistakenly associated with feminine music or meditation due to certain stereotypes. However, Yellow Wasabi aims to demonstrate that the Guzheng offers far more possibilities. Traditionally, the sounds of the Guzheng are produced by the musician's finger movements, using artificial nails, and are perceived by the audience. Yellow Wasabi proposes to transform this method of sound production by replacing the nails with a microscope programmed in MaxMSP. She performs the traditional Guzheng gestures by manipulating a connected microscope, thus exploring a new approach to the instrument.
Furthermore, Yellow Wasabi seeks to rethink the relationship between the Guzheng, the musician, and the audience. In classical music, the audience is often a passive receiver. Yellow Wasabi aims to connect the musician and the audience through the Guzheng by using electronic modules capable of measuring physiological data such as heartbeats, body temperature, or respiration. This way, both the emitter and receiver can interact in real-time, providing physiological feedback as they hear the music.
Yellow Wasabi will also play the Guzheng using gesture control via artificial intelligence, interacting with sounds without physical contact, and creating an interactive visualization to offer an immersive experience.
