Jason Singh’s sound installation launches in our Gallery

A new sound installation by sound artist and nature beatboxer Jason Singh is now open in the Gallery at Dartington, running until 15 September.

Careful readers of Resurgence magazine will have noted a recent article featuring our artist-in-residence Jason Singh discussing his exploration of the sonic potential of the 2,000 year old yew tree here at Dartington, and the prospect of collaborating with it through an auditory project. That potential has now been unlocked with a new work called Land:Scapes which weaves together four layers of audio determined by electrical impulses coming directly from the tree. These have been mixed together and then combined with a field recording from the location of the tree, which features the sound of birds, wind rustling through trees, and other environmental sounds. The result is a deeply affecting auditory experience, which simultaneously connects us with the ecological world and reminds of our dependence on it.

Jason has worked with a MIDI sprout device which uses sensors to capture electrical signals from the plant/tree and converts this information into notes, played through digital instruments like synthesizers. He then edited, processed, and arranged those raw musical recordings, to produce the work. All the notes that you can hear have been generated by the tree, and have not been interfered with. The tempo and additional effects such as reverb and delay are the only elements that have been added to enhance the listening experience, if and when needed.

The work is about listening to our environment, and encourages us to become more connected with the world. It’s hoped that the installation inspires the listener to think about the relationship between ourselves and the world in which we live, as well as reminding us to take time to use our ears to experience the world in a more open-minded way.

The process behind the show is a collaboration between the artist, the plant and the musical technology, demonstrating a kind of work that engages with things that are not usually recognised as collaborators.

You can find out more about Jason’s work by visiting his website here: jasonsinghthing.com. For gallery opening times click here.

Jason features in an episode of our new podcast, run by our Arts and Ecology lecturers, Natasha Rivett Carnac and Mike Edwards. Listen to the podcast here:

The MA Arts and Ecology is designed to help students develop creative projects in the context of the climate crisis and the ecological, social, and ethical challenges we all face. The course takes a metadisciplinary approach and begins with the recognition that the world is alive and we can no longer act upon it as if it is inanimate. If you’d like to find out more, and to apply, click the button below.