Out of all the guest lectures this term, Paul Nataraj’s stood out to me the most. There was something deeply honest and reflective about the way he spoke—not just about his work, but about the thinking behind it. After the session, we had a great conversation where he shared more about his influences and thought process, which only deepened my appreciation for his practice.
His sound piece Dub in a Cup of Tea really struck a chord with me. I found it to be a powerful example of how collection can itself be a form of creation. The way he layered samples, memories, and textures felt both personal and political, speaking to histories that aren’t always preserved in straightforward ways.
One concept he introduced that has stayed with me is the idea of the palimpsest, something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form. I’ve been thinking about that a lot since. It made me reconsider how I approach my own work, and how sound, memory, and meaning can all exist in layers. I’m looking forward to seeing how this approach will come to fruition.