Lou Chapelle’s artwork Voicing Silence responds to these questions, engaging with artists and Global Majority groups through a series of model making, poetry, dance and singing sessions contributing to the final collective video piece.
The double holographic video installation is presented within a structure inspired by a Thai village house, a place of shelter and protection. In the garden of these buildings, spirit houses of a similar style would be constructed to worship and show respect to the spirits of the land, in the hope of bringing blessings upon its residents, and avoiding misfortune. The Thai belief in providing shelter for spirits who inhabited the land before us is inspiring, offering new ways to think about today’s environmental issues and use of land and resources.
The work was designed and created by artist Lou Chapelle in collaboration with composer and choir leader Jennifer John, sound engineer and producer Dash, movement artist Kali Chandrasegaram, costume designer Rachael Prime, animator Laura Spark, poet Scott Farlow, film-maker Tim Brunsden and project co-ordinator Louise Nulty.
‘Creating, Thinking and Feeling through Extinction’ research for Voicing Silence has been led by Dr Stefan Skrimshire, Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds, with the help of Dr Dominic O’Key, Leverhulme Fellow at Sheffield University.
Dr Stefan Skrimshire said “extinction so often conjures tragic images of iconic species from the past preserved as museum specimens. In this artwork we see it in people’s lives and struggles: something that is resisted, contested, that inspires rage and creativity as well as sorrow.”
The work will be presented as part of Go Green Salford in New Adelphi foyer. It is free and open to the public
Opening times:
20 – 2-4pm, 4-6pm Launch event; come and meet the artist and celebrate the work at this informal launch
21 – 11am-5pm
22 – 11am-6pm, 2-4pm Meet the artist, pop along for an informal chat
Book a free place at the launch event here:
Voicing Silence launch event Tickets, Mon 20 Mar 2023 at 16:00 | Eventbrite
Find out more about Go Green Salford programme here:
Go Green Salford 2023 | University of Salford
Learn more about the Voicing Silence here with links to tool kits for educators and activists as well as self care for climate anxiety:
@voicingsilence | Linktree