We’re developing something interactive in Lewes...

R&D for Solace (2019). Credit: Kevin Grist

​3 creatives have been locked away in The Martyrs' Gallery doing research and development. Solace is a new video and sound installation exploring how we respond to nature...

​As one of the artists, I decided to keep a blog of the creative process.

​I'll be creating the soundscapes and synths for the project. I'm working with:

• ​Karen Tilley – a Brighton-based visual artist, who has worked with video, sound and mixed-media. She also grows her own veg. Karen and I are collaborating as artists on Solace.
• David Hamilton - a Rochester-based sound artist, who works with interactive technology such as Max MSP and Arduinos. He also has a cool 3D printer. David’s role for Solace is to provide technical expertise.

Our ambition is that Solace will tour several galleries in Sussex. We hope it will be a co-creation between local artists and audiences, exploring our relationship with nature and whether we know what is real anymore in the modern-day landscape.

We spent 2 days of initial R&D at the Martyrs Gallery in Lewes. A huge thanks to them for supporting us with a space, it was much appreciated!

As you can see from my sketches, our core idea is to have an interactive walk-through with a main panoramic video on the back wall and smaller screens at the front.
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R&D for Solace (2019). Credit: Kevin Grist

​Here's some of our initial reflections and questions:

Artistic narrative and ideas

• We want the piece to explore how people interact with the natural space (some of which is managed, e.g. pathways, bins, lighting, signs), how they observe and listen.

• The main panoramic video will be filmed at different parts of a Sussex woodland or park. Each scene could be captured every hour to get the changing light. The videos will look normal, but after editing, contain subtle oddities. What is real? Karen is going to film some more of these.
• Sensors will trigger smaller videos screens and soundscapes, where each person’s action has consequences elsewhere in the ‘woodland.’
• Use of mirrored plinths / mirrored projection could create sense of deeper space and immersion.
• The soundscapes will be presented as layers of manipulated sound, composed in relation to the video scenes. In keeping with the ‘what is real?’ theme, some natural sounds, such as a bee buzzing, will be subtly replaced with a something mechanical sounding. Will people notice?
• There are further ideas of using instruments, singing or spoken word. I will explore if there are Sussex folklore stories of interest – perhaps look at Belloc and The Copper Archive etc.
• Considering presenting the sound in drop down speakers (eg. Dolby Atmos) or multi-height speakers to correlate with pitch.

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R&D for Solace (2019). Credit: Kevin Grist

Technical considerations

• Does the installation have a ‘dormant state’ to invite people in?
• We will need a period of audience testing – noting common paths, points of interest near the sensors, common errors, general experience feedback.
• If we have a single projection video panel we will need to consider the filming ratio (panoramic).
• A single Apple Mac Mini-computer with outputs controlling other Arduinos (c 2014 model) would be technically stable. Could the Ardinuos talk to each other and create a ripple or flicker effect of sound or video, during some interactions? Like a scared animal being discovered?
• David will oversee coding for the Arduinos
• Sensors could be hidden in 3D-printed encasements
• Multi height plinths make it appear more ‘natural’
• Karen and I would like to use this as an opportunity to refresh our knowledge of Max MSP and using maker kits. I haven’t done this since uni, over 10 years ago!

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R&D for Solace (2019). Credit: Kevin Grist

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Community co-creation

• We want to invite local audiences to co-create elements of the work in a meaningful way. We are considering how this work and whether it is a combination of community workshops and online video/sound submissions from people’s gardens.

What’s next…

• Develop a tech spec and costings for materials.
• Approach exhibition spaces and interested partners.
• Create a test piece of new footage and soundscape, based on our learning from the initial R&D days. Karen to test filming in the woodland over different times of day and Kevin will compose soundscape ideas over this.
• SparkedEcho will explore grant funding to support a full period of research and development, installation, community engagement and exhibition tour.

 
Keep up to date with Solace on Twitter @SparkedEcho or sign up to our newsletter.

​If you would like to get in involved in the project please contact us.
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​By Kevin Grist - Director - SparkedEcho