"120 BPM" By Adela Wagner

120 BPM is a personal archive of what has been. An undeniable reality that echoed through the year 2020 and continues to ring on. It is an audio story told with the body, through the lens and ears of an immigrant.
 Some sounds return as an echo a couple times, as if asking the listener a question. Some emerge to the surface loudly and leave behind a quiet veil.
 

 The artwork revolves around the concept of negative space. A quiet pause highlighting what has been loud. An opportunity for breathing out, for your imagination to start painting. Time for your mind to reflect upon what you’ve heard. 
 

 120 BPM is a frequency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation compressions. It is the tempo of the heart rate of a person in distress, weaved throughout this piece. The humm of a police helicopter swallowing all else. Grandmother’s voice coming from too far. The absence of noises. The calling, calling, calling for air. 
 

 We haven't yet started to process what has been happening with us.
 Around us.
 To us. 
 

 Note:
 Written transcription of this piece, along with translation from Czech, is available for anyone upon request.