Winter Narratives

Day 7, already. Don't want to go home! Just getting used to time difference and to everyone around me. But..... Today I have been working on the idea of the exhibition, thinking how it will work. Began by researching QR codes which I have used before but needed refreshing on sizes etc. Spent a very long time making paper boxes for the three objects that I will use. Found great value in discussing it with others. For example, Prantik, I know from his website is very good at making in wood so I talked about the boxes. His thoughts were that I should make individual boxes for each object so that it looked like the box was made for object rather than object for box, good thinking. With Hannah, I talked about my least favourite object which was a glass. She suggested food and I suddenly realised rice was the object. Thanks both of you. I have also been thinking about the idea of the residency itself asking, what could be done here that wouldn't/couldn't be done elsewhere? I am sure that I have mentioned this before but it is a recurring question. Put it on my map, which is rapidly filling up and now needs sellotaping. I hope others will think about the question. Not mentioned our invite to the Christmas concert at Zahir's old school, lots of fun and valued the rehearsal time that the children had put in. Our evening was taken up by an exhibition at Ark. Great

Missed a day out so its catch up time.  The greatest thing about residencies is that they give you time to develop your work. It is an unfolding , taking what you think you already know into new places. Here there is no need to worry about things like where your next meal is, it is there and that keeps your mind unfettered. So, I am having a brilliant time, just working away. Day 5 was workshop day and I did a sound workshop that developed listening and collaborative sound practices to create a fantastic sounding end result.  At the residency site, I created a short film using my interpretations of the early morning noises. Putting them on a speaker, I took it into the woods and let it play amongst the existing bird song. I think I wanted to see if it had an impact and I think it increased the bird song but obviously, that could be co-incidental. I think it is too poor a connection to attach. So day 6, a quieter day as our evenings are occupied with house visits, gallery visits  and food. It has all been really interesting. The image above shows an almost 360 degree drawing in bamboo charcoal of the mould growing in the pool.It fades as the charcoal fades. Spent the rest of the day editing the sound clips I had made of everyone on site. Not sure how I will put them

Just sitting, listening, pulling my arms tight round me for warmth, hearing all sorts of birds that I didn't recognise plus some that I did, like peacocks. It is 6.50  in the morning, still dark but beginning to lighten. There is no-one else here. The monkeys slowly awaken and clamber down tree trunks only taking an interest in me when I eat my breakfast, an avocado. I stuff it into my mouth as fast as I can as one monkey watches every mouthful. I have my monkey stick to hand. The sun becomes a ball of red through the trees. I listen, I record, I write. Later, I use these sounds to create my own in the resonate space of the 'round house'. Lying flat on my back, I point my recorder to the ceiling and warble. I don't notice the bites that I acquire until later when they itch. The rest of the day is spent intensively using these experiences as a foundation. A full day of making.