Kay Aplin & Joseph Young: In a Shetland Landscape
Saturday, April 16th 2016 - Sunday, June 12th 2016
Da Gadderie
Artists Kay Aplin (ceramics) and Joseph Young (sound art) have been working together for the last 2 years to develop new ways of combining sound art and ceramic sculpture.
After an initial research trip, funded by a New Collaborations Bursary from a-n (the Artists Information Company), Aplin and Young returned to Shetland in August last year to spend a month in residency at the Scalloway Booth. During this time they explored the landscape and soundscape of the Shetland Isles through walking routes mapped out with the aid of Shetland Amenity Trust.
The result is a collaborative installation inspired by the work of John Cage entitled In a Shetland Landscape, after Cage’s famous composition In a Landscape. The exhibition explores the experience of being part of a landscape rather than simply observing it. This is achieved through an immersive four channel sound installation that takes the listener on a sweeping journey through the unique sounds of land and sea; accompanied by a series of ceramic panels celebrating the indigenous “micro-flora” of the Shetland Isles, magnified to produce delicate designs of vibrant colour and texture.
Expanding the project:
Excited by their own collaboration, Aplin and Young decided to extend the project to offer the opportunity for other artists from ceramic and sound backgrounds to collaborate together in a series of month-long residencies hosted by Phoenix Brighton. The results will be exhibited at Phoenix Brighton Gallery during the Brighton Digital Festival. At the same time, In A Shetland Landscape will transfer from Shetland Museum and Archives to a new gallery space at the award-winning Ceramic House (Best House, AOH 2013) accompanied by further performances and artist talks at venues including Brighton University.
Leading film and digital producers 51 Zero will then tour the work to selected venues in Kent and Medway during October and November, featuring film programmes, artist talks, temporary exhibitions and performances. A catalogue/artists book will be published accompanied by a CD release of the soundworks from In a Shetland Landscape, in collaboration with Portuguese label Green Field Recordings.