Inspired by the poem The Conference of the Birds by poet Farid ud-Din Attar (12th century), Simurgh is an interactive mask that evokes the ones used in harvest rites and celebrations of the arrival of summer.
This bird mask has movable features that influence the sound it makes. Drawing different expressions on the eyebrows changes the sound content generated via a keyboard hidden under the feathers. Interaction with the mask invites the user to adopt a posture that satirically imitates the wings of a bird. The beak is also adjustable: when open, the sound consists of a synthesised bird song; when closed, the mask emits recordings ranging from birdsong to the industrial sounds of a metalworks in operation.
Developed in 2022, Simurgh made its debut at a performance for babies in Loulé.