West of the Sun, East of the Moon
‘West of the Sun, East of the Moon’ is a photography and sound installation which explores the themes of underwater sound pollution and transformation.
I explored the respect and relationship indigenous societies and ancient cultures developed with water sources and water’s association with fertility, femininity, birth and rebirth. I brought the topic back to the present day, by highlighting the issue of underwater sound pollution to bring focus on how we need to revive our relationship of respect and gratitude towards our oceans, rivers and lakes.
The installation was presented as part of a group exhibition curated by
The Collective Makers, at the National Maritime Museum in London, Greenwich from February 2023 until February 2024.
Photographs:
I researched into the meaning and symbolism of water and the mythological creatures that inhabit it, from various ancient and indigenous cultures and represented my perception of them in 6 black and white analogue photographs.
Sound:
Sounds from unfamiliar habitats brimming with life are unveiled reminding us of how little we know about underwater life. Our present day society focuses on image, consequently giving less importance to noise pollution - an increasingly recognised anthropogenic stressor. Our preservation of these environments ensures the health and survival of marine and freshwater organisms which rely on sound for mating, protection and feeding.
‘Te Pō’ is a composition of field recordings of underwater sounds, from Michael Peters, environmental organisations, online resources and myself.