2011, Smith, Paul

This work explores the Japanese kawaii aesthetic through music. It is an outcome of research that explores "ekphrasis" - the act of one art form remediating another. In this case, music is remediating the kawaii aesthetic of Japanese anime characters. Each movement of the work is based on a different animated character exploring musical and visual gesture.

2015, Smith, Paul

This chamber opera explores Japanese story telling devices through opera. It is an operatic exploration of key Japanese aesthetic including mono no aware, ma, and evanescence. The two singers represent the spider and the flower who have an esoteric discussion about the nature of being through music. It additionally considers the representational status of music in art and culture.