Harmony of Difference - Kamasi Washington

Harmony of Difference debuted during the 2017 Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art, accompanied by a film directed by A.G. Rojas and visual art by Amani Washington, the sister of Kamasi Washington. This six-part suite explores the concept of “counterpoint,” which Kamasi describes as the art of blending similarities and contrasts to achieve harmony between independent melodies. The project celebrates diversity and interconnectedness, aiming to inspire recognition of the beauty found in differences.
 
The first five movements stand alone as individual compositions, while the sixth, titled Truth, unites all five into a single cohesive performance. Amani’s artwork reflects this concept, with five paintings representing the distinctiveness of each movement and a sixth that merges them into an abstract portrait of a human face. The accompanying film translates these themes into visual form, focusing on the vibrant communities of South Central and East Los Angeles, highlighting the beauty of their diversity and unity.