BODUR

In 2025 BODUR presented ‘SECOND LANGUAGE’: a live three-day music installation at V&A East Storehouse. From Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th December, artist BODUR composed her conceptual music project ‘SECOND LANGUAGE’ in front of a live audience at V&A East Storehouse — joined by five of her core musical collaborators. Backdropped by the worlds largest Picasso 'Le Train Bleu (1924)' an 11-metre-wide stage front cloth, ‘SECOND LANGUAGE’ invited audiences to witness the moment of conception of a musical idea and to observe the conversation that takes place both between musicians with and without words during a song’s composition. This historic performance art piece, the very first of its kind to have no barrier between audience and artist during the creation of a musical project, was inspired by BODUR’s perspective that “music is everyone’s first language and everything else comes secondary.” In 2022, BODUR embraced a new musical language, expanding on her music degree by delving into the rich traditions of the Oud, a fretless Middle Eastern string instrument. Furthering her studies at The Arab British Centre, BODUR deepened her understanding of Arabic music theory and the microtonal Maqam musical system. This new direction in her artistry is reflected in her debut album MAQAM, which explores profound political themes of racism, xenophobia, and the dehumanization experienced by her and her community. Debut album MAQAM (2025) and EP 'SECOND LANGUAGE' (2026) are out now.