In April, for our second year B.A Sound Arts & Design we had a Unit module. In this Unit, we could work independently or collaboratively. The Gallery 46 space in Whitechapel is located in the multi diverse area, with a large Bangladeshi Community in that Tower Hamlet, London.
I decided that I wanted to create a collective sound composition that entails, media, musicality and research interview in the Tower Hamlet. After planning my concept, I wanted to know more the history, and also more elaboration into my research. I was then enquired to research the history in the Tower Hamlet area.
After gaining information about the community, I went to Brick Lane High St.
I went into restaurants, shop or tailors to try get a audio recording of the experience of coming over. This was a great chance to reflect and listen to the elderly generation of the community and on the area’s resilient nature of solidarity of overcoming prejudice treatment, racism experience whilst migrating majorly here in the early 70’s.
For the gallery space design, I designed a recreation of a 70’s living room, buying ornaments, cloth and food in the area of Whitechapel, Watney Market. The reason why I used majority of the props, was because I wanted keep the authenticity of the culture. I also wanted parts of the room to represent a part of the Bangladesh community
I also painted a watercolour feature to go in the space named ‘8 Waterlilies’ with each Waterlily representing the 8 divisions of Bangladesh. This took a lengthy two month to create, because of the colour use and blending technique.
The audio piece I composed was played out of British Tannoy speakers that fit the vintage look of the room. I really enjoyed this project as I’ve been interested in visiting installation and how interactive they can be- depending on the media or sound process.
Bāṛi (Home) 2019, displayed on the 26-29th April 2019.
