Sound Installation: Experimenting with Sound's Impact on a Space.

"There are two ways to experience my work in public space. People either just happen upon it and they’re surprised, they become very aware of their sense of self in that particular place and moment. Or, you’re waiting in anticipation, you become very aware of the time passing." - Susan Philipsz.

Inspired by Susan Philipsz's use of sound to define a space and trigger emotion, I decided to experiment with this concept myself. Using field recordings taken over the easter holidays, I projected the sounds into a public stairwell, the acoustics within this space caused the sounds to echo and travel throughout the various floors. The main recordings I used were of birdsong and natural wildlife, I wanted to see what effect these natural sounds would have in a different context.

This resulted in something quite meditative and immersive. Hearing these sounds confined within a constricted space that lacked natural light, was an interesting experiment with sound and space, separating the sounds from their origin. The audience, people who stumbled upon the installation when using the stairs, reacted in various ways, some paid little attention, others became very aware of the space and their position within it.