hi,
I remember a few weeks ago there was a short chat about good ways to
present sound art. I didnt read much of it, but I wanted to append the
discussion briefly with a mention of a great piece of work I recently saw
in South Africa.
The piece is called 'Cell Stories', it is located within the cells on
Robben Island, the prison for politcal prisoners during apatheid. There
is a brief mention of it here:
http://www.robben-island.org.za/departments/heritage/mayibuye/building_archives.asp
When I attended the exhibition most of the works were down for
maintenance, however one component of the show stood and it was this that
had more impact than possibly any other sound work I have experienced. In
one of the cell blocks where the piece is situated you can hear, drifting
down the prison hall, the sound of singing. The singing is from a group of
three or four men, it is very soft and chant-like with subtle melodies.
After each song there is the faint banter of these men talking to each
other.
Approaching the cells I found myself wondering if the chorus was recorded
or perhaps sung by some tacky tourist group. I was prepared for
disappointment. I could not see into the cells until I was right next to
them, and until I peered inside I could not tell what created the sound.
Finally on entering the first cell I still could not see the source, the
cell had been left just as it had been during the occupation by political
prisoners of the apartheid era. In the three cells from where the sound
emanated, there was nothing new except a small photo of the ex-prisoner
that once occupied the cell. The photo was annotated only with the name of
the tenant, and the years they occupied the cell.
The sound was coming from the small intercom mounted on the wall within
each cell. The intercoms where the original piece of communications
equipment used by the wardens.
From each intercom came the solo voice of the prisoner in isolation, but
singing in harmony with the rest of the voices.
It was the most evocative sound installation I have experienced. It was
simple and sublime.
Many thanks to Ashwell Adriaan & Roger Meintjes for creating this project.
adam
Adam Hyde
~/.za
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