Garrelfs constructed an audio composition inspired by the archival material held at Berkshire Record Office. This included a microfilm of a 18th century parish register, an etching of Jane Austen who was at school in Reading, a photograph of the oldest map of Reading, as well as letters written in the 18th century by Reading citizens who emigrated to America and Australia. The artist has also incorporated recordings discovered in the sound archives at The Museum of Reading - a song recorded for Huntley and Palmers biscuit factory and the sound of steam engines - both reflecting key aspects of Reading's historic industries.
Several different types of computer software were used to shape the work, for example Metasyth software transposed visual material into sound. The work is made in 4 parts and is played across pairs of speakers. Each strand or "thread" of the composition wanders from one speaker to another. Visitors were invited to wander through the space and interact with the work, absorbing the sounds as they passed through, and viewing some of the documents that inspired the piece. |
