For our seventh DYSBIOSIS artist spotlight we turn to the exciting, socially engaged work of multidisciplinary musician, composer, theatremaker and poet Shakira Stellar. In the first DYSBIOSIS R&D, Shakira crafted an ambient soundscape using lichen as a musical score, imitating its structures and textures using a synthesiser. During the second R&D, Shakira delved deeper into the symbiosis between the drummer and the earth, treating music as a dialogue of vibrations and frequencies. Through this exploration, Shakira sought to subvert the ancient notion of the “Great Chain of Being,” reimagining rocks and minerals not as the lowest, but as vital, resonant voices in the cosmic symphony.
Tell us about yourself and your creative practice
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, primarily working as a drummer and composer, but I’m also a poet and theatremaker. I fuse these mediums and approaches all the time and love doing so. I follow what sparks my interest and love to try new things so my practice is always developing and growing, which leads me to meet and work with new people, which is so wonderful. I love to learn new things, I’m so happy when I am, so who knows where my artistry will go!
How does your heritage influence the way you view/value nature?
I have so many thoughts and emotions about this, I tried to write a short answer but it was turning into an essay. I’m second generation born in London/UK, and my roots are Indo-Guyanese. One of the beauties of the Dysbiosis R&Ds was that we could discuss these ideas and questions together, discovering many overlapping themes, feelings, experiences and more even though we have different cultural origins. From my perspective, we were able to find a supportive community through these discussions which was beautiful, hopeful, revolutionary and interesting. We could respond creatively to these discussions and find ways of incorporating them into the project. I am and feel very, very connected to the earth and nature, for me it is the most powerful source of knowledge, inspiration and awe.
How do you find the sharing process at the end of the R&D weeks?
Sharing at the end of both R&Ds honoured our personal and collective creativity, friendship, community and research created over such a short space of time. To share incomplete work in front of small audiences can be challenging but also is wonderful to be able to share our discoveries and passion for the project. I really hope we can have another R&D and put on a show in the near future – I’ve developed an idea using percussion, frequencies and found material that I would like to stage as part of the project. I’ve learnt so much from taking part and the other artists, it is a real pleasure and privilege to be a part of the team.
Has the R&D had an impact on you as a creative person? How has it changed your way of working if at all?
It definitely has and I think about both R&Ds regularly. I’ve incorporated many of the approaches to discussion and creativity we utilised during the R&Ds into my general creative practice, which I believe has become richer and more dynamic as a result. I became really inspired by lichen and that is owed to Paul and his digital microscope, where we could see the intricacies of the lichen like the colours and shapes. This really inspired the piece that I created during both R&Ds. I love to look at objects, natural and synthetic, on a macro/molecular level because you can see so much more in a way that you otherwise would not have seen, if always focusing on the bigger picture. I also like to experience objects through other senses too like exploring the textures and sounds etc for a broader understanding of them. It means I can find inspiration anywhere and it is a very meditative process for me.
Follow Shakira on Instagram @shakiradrums
