Undercurrents, Bristol Beacon, UK, (2023-24)
Guided Meditation (11’37”)
Sonic Poem (21’24”)
Undercurrents has been commissioned by Bristol Beacon, within the public art programme for the reopening of the music venue. The sound work (presented as two tracks) invites audiences to connect with the historical undercurrents of Bristol Beacon’s position to the water, and the reverberations of the transatlantic slave trade imbued within the port city—whilst offering a space for grief and catharsis. This unique public artwork was broadcast simultaneously across radio platforms; BCFM 92.3 (Bristol Community FM), Radio Amnion, and across the Atlantic with Wavefarm & WGXC 90.7, in New York’s Hudson Valley, during the full moon on the 25th January, 2024.
Undercurrents takes as its starting point the notion of the 15th century ruttier, a long poem and map, recited and memorised by sailors at sea to guide them as they navigated. Subverted later by the poet Dionne Brand in her poem; Ruttier for the Marooned in the Diaspora from her (2001) novel; A Map to the Door of no Return: Notes to Belonging.
“Marooned in the mouth where things escape before they are said, are useless before they are given or echo. Marooned in realms of drift, massacres of doubt, implications. Marooned where the body burns with longing for everything and nothing, where it circles unable to escape a single century; tenements and restagings of alien, new landings.” - Brand. D, (2001) pp. 216
Thus Undercurrents is a sonic ruttier (routier), a poem imbued with more-than-human testimony made audible through hydrophone recordings collected during workshops with black interdisciplinary artists, writers, and historians connected to Bristol. Across three days the group moved with emerging and hidden water bodies, guided by the river Frome in and around the Bristol Beacon. Each workshop was co-facilitated with Libita and a participant, beginning with thematic improvisational group reading exercises led by (curator, performer) Imani-Mason-Jordan. Then shifting to embodied experiences of being with water guided by (artist and water activist) Kayle Brandon in Canadian Canoes - along the river Avon. With offerings along the way from plant spirit herbalist, Ann Freeman who campaigned for the release and acknowledgement of St.Edith’s Well, Castle Park, and an introduction to dowsing with Paul Syrett at the Bristol Beacon. The final day was led by composer and sound artist, Felix Taylor, with experimentations in creating a group ruttier. Culminating in a live immersive soundscape made from the group's voice notes and hydrophone recordings. To close, the participants experienced a guided meditation offered by Maria Christoforidou and a sound bath by Monika Kralj.
Credits (sonic poem): lead vocals and arrangement by Libita Sibungu, sound design and composition by Felix Taylor, studio sound engineer S J Blackmore, featuring words and vocals by; Edson Burton, Maria Christoforidou, Fozia Ismail, Valda Jackson, Shawn-Napthali Sobers, Felix Taylor, Kayle Brandon, and Imani Mason Jordan.
Guided meditation written and performed by Maria Christoforidou, sound design by Felix Taylor, in collaboration with Libita Sibungu.
This project has been produced by Prince Taylor, and curated by Theresa Bergne, Field Art Projects.