Mel Chilianis

Mel (they/them) is a flautist and composer working with electro-acoustic sound extension and conceptual mixes in installation and performance.

They have commissioned work in the Goldcoast Exhibition Centre and their solo sound installation Days of Our Lives was in Contemporary Composition: From Avant-Garde to Experimental curated by Stéphanie Kabanyana Kanyandekwe in Now Hear This, part of Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria. Mel’s electroacoustic arrangement of John Cage’s Waterwalk was part of Cage’s Musicircus (Melbourne International Arts Festival) and her acoustic compositions have been performed and broadcast live on ABC-FM (Australia) and Radio 3 (National radio, Italy). For many years they performed and composed with contemporary music group, re-sound.

Mel has a PhD in film and communication studies where they investigated relations between the epileptic body and gender through electronic music. They published an encyclopaedia entry on drum’n’bass music in Australia, co-authored an article on children’s engagement in art and music (Australian Art Education), and presented at the first Sound:Gender:Feminism:Activism symposium at CRISAP London (Creative Research into Sound  Arts Practice, London College of Communication). Mel’s sound work MCVox, published by Winchester University Press, is archived in the British Library.

Mel’s music explores a tension between interruption and a desire for continuity. Their recent work engages with emplaced improvised flute, as well as electronic music.

UPCOMING

Art & Mind: Sista Creatives Rising 2024/2025

RECENT

Tenjinyama Art Studio, Hokkaido

Hub Feenix, Finland, artist residency

Symbi-chime situated improvisations

Sista Creatives Rising – sound designer for multiarts project centring Black women/femmes
2023

Yūgen, an audiovisual exhibition
with Cat Lew
Creative Brimbank, Jul ’23

SDA Residency 2022-23Exploring accessibility and disability justice in the arts