Cultures of Sound - September

As part of Cultures of Sound, the School of Arts & Humanities at the University of Huddersfield was delighted to present Field Studies – Land Body Botany by award-winning photographer Dr Yan Wang Preston and leading experimental music composer Dr Monty Adkins, with guest artist Carrie Williams.

Private View: Thursday 14th October, 6-8pm

Open Mon to Fri 10am – 3pm, Saturdays 11am - 4pm

Field Studies artists & Dr. Alan Elliott, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in conversation: Wednesday 27th September, 1-3pm

This exhibition payed tender attention to so-called non-native invasive species Rhododendron Ponticum within one of its many ‘infested’ landscapes. Luminous and exquisite works in a variety of media were made between 2020 and 2023, shaped by how the COVID-19 crisis altered our relationships to the landscapes, flora and fauna that surround us.

Yan Wang Preston conducted careful and exhaustive artistic research around the rhododendron from her perspective as a photographer, and in collaboration with composer Monty Adkins and textile artist Carrie Williams situated it within post and decolonical narratives, as well as literally within the landscape of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire.

Visual and auditory representations of the passing of time and the turning of the seasons were manifested through material representations which referenced the artists’ cultural heritage and complicated their relationship to the categorising impulse of the institution. For the first time Wang Preston produced sculptural objects which contained layers of meaning bound up in her choices around construction and materials, whereas Adkins and Williams brought their distinct artistic and artisanal practices to bear on the body of research.

Sonic Threads is an exciting duo comprised of South Indian Carnatic vocals (Supriya Nagarajan) and improvisatory harp (Lucy Nolan). For this performance they collaborated with guest artist Duncan Chapman on sounds/field recordings to explore and weave musical motifs inspired by textiles from India including Calico and Kanchipuram.

The textiles’ weave and weft directly impact the musical phrases and melodies and the combination provides for a heady Indo-jazz experience; the recently formed duo are inspired by the spiritual nature of renowned harpist Alice Coltrane.

Click here to watch and listen to a film of the performance.

Supriya Nagarajan has a unique voice in the British music scene and creates concept driven immersive music productions that push boundaries and encourage thought. She has performed across the world in various venues and festivals like the Harpa in Reykjavik, Royal Albert Hall, WOMAD, QEH Southbank Centre, Casa Da Musica and the Zee Jaipur Litfest music stage. Her works like Lullaby Sonic Cradle, Sound of Tea and Bollywood Jazz project have won critical acclaim and earned her a niche reputation in the UK and beyond.

Supriya is regularly supported by PRS Foundation, Jerwood Foundation and Arts Council England. Her music is a blend of her South Indian classical traditions and Western contemporary styles and she has released albums under the Manasamitra label, Tokuroku and Come Play With Me.

Duncan Chapman is a composer / musician based in Lincolnshire. Recent projects include online live events, a residency at EMS in Stockholm, curating a concert for the Aural Diversity project and performances (with Supriya) at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India. Current projects include online performances with Comb Filter and Humbox and an album of marimba and live electronic pieces with Simon Limbrick.

Lucy Nolan graduated from Oxford University and the Royal Northern College of Music with Distinctions in postgraduate degrees, Lucy was the recipient of a number of prizes and a finalist in the RNCM’s Gold Medal weekend. She has been a guest artist on BBC radio 3 and performed new music at the Hong Kong World Harp Congress, The Royal Albert Hall, TUSK festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Lambeth Palace, Jaipur Literature Festival and Hull City of Culture