Touched
Cyprus, 2021

Touch(ed) is a performance for one female performer using autobiographical events to confront gender bias and cultural ideals around intimacy—in life, in art-making, and in dance itself

Performed: Kestrel Leah
Music composition & sound design: Yiannis Christofides
Music based on the song Gravity by Whitney Mower aka They/Live from the album Ablation (Born Loser Records, 2020)
Visual design: Daria Sur Photo by Artemis Evlogimenou
Lighting and video: Sakari Laurila

This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant in the frame work of the Residency Programme for Performing and Live Arts at Theatro Polis OPAP/ NiMAC

Alarm

2019, Los Angeles

An original vignette-based work in collaboration with choreographer Brigette Dunn-Korpela and Physical Plastic theatre project. The symbiotic development of vocal composition, choreography and sculpture uses security alarms and the ancient Greek Sirens as points of departure to embody the act of trespassing, ownership of space, and the physical and disembodied experiences of the alarm state.

Selected vignettes presented by: REDCAT - Roy and Edna Disney/CALARTS Theatre and L.A.N.D. (Los Angeles, 2018), & WILD ART GROUP at Blue Roof Studios (Los Angeles, 2019)

Development took place in residency at the Paloma Street Studio ( Los Angeles), Watermill Center for Contemporary Arts (New York) with the support of New Music USA.

Dominique McDougal in ALARM, captured by Brian Hashimoto, Anthony Nikolchev in ALARM, captured by Steve Gunther, Brigette Dunn-Korpela and Kestrel Leah.

Composer: Yiannis Christofides Choreographer: Brigette Dunn-Korpela Director: Kestrel Farin Leah Visual Concept: Dasha Sur Video Design: Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh Costume Design: David Moyer
Lighting Design: Katelan Braymer Lighting Design Sound Engineering: Martin Gimenez

ENSEMBLE: Bailey Edwards, Marguerite Danger French, Craig Gibson, Lisa McNeely, Anthony Nikolchev, Nathan Nonhof, Sadie Schwolsky, Jenapher Jun-Yi Zheng

Constructs

A series of street installations that utilize simple forms demonstrating the codependency of artificial human-made environment and nature.

Evora Monte, Portugal, 2015

Close Proximity

Foundation OBRAS, Evora Monte Castle , Portugal, 2015

Mother

Body and its workings are a mirror image of the workings of the soul. The construction of the installation involves mirrors and refractions of light symbolizing Mother's Tears. We can find the eyes of the Mother looking through our reflection in the mirrors.

Rocky Mountains, CO, USA; Jewish Community Camp, 2017

Noise

The installation reveals a conflict between spiritual needs and earthly desires through the lens of human self-perception in the world of consumerism.

Cultural Alliance, Perm, Russia, 2010

Conversion

Tsvetnoy Central Market, Russia, Moscow, 2016

Totality of Existence

Hungary, Budapest, 2013

Wave

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff.

J.D. Salinger , "The Catcher in The Rye"

Russia, Perm, 2012

Noise

The frozen moment when in uncomfortable condition person starts to feel fascinated by uncertainty.

Estudio Nomada, Barcelona, 2011

Daria is a Russian-American media artist, researcher, and art teacher whose work explores the intersection of technology, art, and social relationships. With an extensive background in AI, video art, and installation art for scenic design, Daria's artistic practice is deeply rooted in experimentation and innovation.

Most of her art pieces address social relationships and social-generational trauma and encourage dialogue that promotes understanding and healing. To support and encourage conversation in the community, Daria focuses her artistic practice on interdisciplinary collaboration with contemporary performers, music artists, and media designers from around the world.

Daria's artistic pursuits are multifaceted and diverse. Her works often involve combining technology with traditional art mediums, leading to unique, exciting, visually stunning, and intellectually stimulating outcomes.

Her research interests, coupled with her art teaching experience, have allowed her to incorporate cutting-edge techniques into her teaching, enabling her students to learn through a hands-on approach. After her immigration to the US in 2014 Daria teaching practice. She teaches K–12 and College level media arts in California, New York, and Colorado. Daria holds an MA in Education from Mills College, California and DBM, Aalto University. She founded R4C Resilience for Creative Learning international hybrid program and Artsy Youth Project in California.