Selected Projects
Current
The Chain of Contagion
Two projects fall under this title. The first examines the complexities of the chain of contagion from microphone to loudspeaker by means of sculpture, text art and recorded audio. Based on research into the writings of anthropologist Marcel Mauss on sympathetic magic.
The second considers Shaligrams. These are sacred stones found along the Kali Gandaki River Valley in the Himalayas. Shaligrams have been described variously as world-seeds (Alfred Gell) or non-anthropomorphic representations of Vishnu. I’m considering the sonic qualities of Shaligrams from both historical (scriptural) and imagined or poetic perspectives. To be realised in stone, text and field recordings from the central Himalayas.
Immigrants
Research: this project looks at immigration in the context of plants and flowers brought to Europe and subsequently established to the point that we forget their origins. Alongside this themes of nostalgia and homesickness in the folk song of countries and regions whose plants were collected and resettled.
Media: multichannel moving image, folk song, small sculpture, food.
Phonophobia
A return to an earlier dialogic project which examines people’s reactions to the sound of their own voice. To be realised through recorded dialogue.
Media: recorded audio, photography and text art.
If you want to participate and live in Scotland or the north of England do get in touch. The project thrives on linguistic diversity.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Research: It is said that Finnish witches used to sell bottles of wind to sailors, presumably to get them out of trouble should they find themselves becalmed. But surely the sound of the wind must be in there as well. Eight fair winds, four cardinal, four ordinal.
Media: sculpture, contemporary choral music based on folk song.
Data centres
Research: a deep dive into the sonic footprint of the latest generation of AI data centres, established by interrogating AI itself, along with further interrogations on how to rid ourselves of these centres. This alongside selected conversations on specific topics that AI agents have with one another on their own ‘social’ media platforms.
Media: synthesised sound, text art, moving image, sculpture.
Past and Ongoing
Selected Radio Works, ongoing radiophonic foraging
Fallow Land, sound, residency, dialogical art, moving image, photography
The Rural Space Agency, work relating to Jedburgh and its hinterland
Landscape & Environment, sound, multi-media and research projects
Community & Participation, workshops, collaborative projects and dialogic art
Spaces & Installations, site-specific and spatial work
Selected Photography & Visual Art, standalone images, prints, collage and other visual work