Abstract
Audio-portraiture describes a discrete, immersively experienced, audio rendering of an individual’s identity. Paradigmatically the development and creation of these audio portraits is informed by te ao Māori philosophies, knowledge and understandings. Within a process of reflective practice, I can trace the iterative development of my portraiture through three forms of experiments, audio-sketching, audio-drafting and refined hypothesis testing. These three forms of experimentation offer a progressive artistic practice-led approach of a non-linear fashion.
Immersive sound technologies are utilized to record, synthesize and spatially position interpretations of the person’s perspectives, experiences and nature. This paper provides an overview of how audio-portrait provide an artistic synthesis of sonic practices resulting in activating sensory responses for a listener that reach beyond the parameters of visual portraiture. This is because 360 immersive and binaural sound-capture technologies can be orchestrated into artistic works that convey unique experiences of space and time. Such work may be designed as a distinctive form of portraiture. Significantly, audio portraiture demonstrates the multidimensionality of wāhine Māori (Māori women) through artistic interpretation and representation in ways that are culturally authentic and unique.