WAVE SONGS SOUNDSCAPE LandR [2017, Helen Ottaway, 9:58]

found sounds, voices, hand-wound musical box, recorded in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka in 2017.

My work during the Sura Medura International Artists Residency in Sri Lanka was focussed on loss, grief, memory and a sense of place. Sounds, words and snatches of melody were collected and recorded from the environment, from local people and from fellow artists. The resulting soundscape draws an imaginary line between the waters of the sea (left channel) and the inland lagoons (right channel) reflecting the linear nature of life.

The piece was originally installed in the corridor of Sun Beach Hotel: two independent stereo tracks played from opposite ends. Following the first site-specific installation in the hotel corridor, the piece was presented at the first International Festival of Human Rights in Colombo and in several places in the UK including at the 14th International Conference on the Social context of Death, Dying and Disposal, Bath University, UK in 2019.

Thanks to the following for their contributions: Priyanthi Pasquel Handi of the Community Tsunami Museum, Peraliya; Lorna Rees; Anders Rigg; Kyna Hodges; Flick Ferdinando; Rae-Yen Song; Chathura Dananjaya; 4R Paper Factory, Wellawattha; Coir Factory, Dodanduwa; Amangalla Hotel, Galle; Sunbeach Hotel Hikkaduwa.

Further info: https://helenottaway.blog/ 2017 and 2018 posts

image: Hikkaduwa storm (photo Helen Ottaway)