Seeing Lavender (styled lowercase as seeing lavender) is a New York City based project about creating relatable and soothing music that feels like having a conversation with an understanding friend. By infusing nostalgic punk with contemporary indie rock, seeing lavender's songs feel fresh, yet familiar.
On November 3, 2023, seeing lavender released the music video "The Jester and the Fool", directed by Brian Ryu, and produced by seeing lavender, David Buhrmaster, and Sacha Voteau. Shefik appears in the music video as a Dancer, where he danced alongside seeing lavender and a group of other enthusiastic dancers. Shefik filmed his segment of the music video adjacent to Washington Arch, which is the marble memorial arch in Washington Square Park, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City.
Designed by architect Stanford White in 1891, Washington Arch commemorates the centennial of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as President of the United States, and forms the southern terminus of 5th Avenue. Washington Arch was dedicated in 1895, and in 1918, two statues of Washington were added to the north side. In modern times, the Washington Arch has become an unofficial symbol of New York University.
Washington Arch, constructed of white Tuckahoe marble, was conceived by White, who adapted the form of a Roman triumphal arch, with a design close to the 1st century Arch of Titus in Rome. They were monuments which the Roman Republic and later emperors built throughout the empire to celebrate a victory or event. For example, the flying figures in the spandrels on either side of the arch are winged victories. The iconography of Washington Arch centers on images of war and peace. The spandrels contain figures of victory.
A jester, court jester, fool or joker was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during royal court. Jesters were also traveling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town markets, and the discipline continues into the modern day, where jesters perform at historical-themed events. During the post-classical and Renaissance eras, jesters are often thought to have worn brightly colored clothes and eccentric hats in a motley pattern. Their modern counterparts usually mimic this costume.
Jesters entertained with a wide variety of skills: principal among them were song, music, and storytelling, but many also employed acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes (such as puns, stereotypes, and imitation), and performing magic tricks. Much of the entertainment was performed in a comic style. Many jesters made contemporary jokes in word or song about people or events well known to their audiences.
Credits
- Director: Brian Ryu
- Dancer: Shefik
Last Updated: November 8, 2023
