Signpost
'Signpost' is a site-specific multi-sensory installation where audiences experience sounds recorded in the town to which it points. Intended as an alternative conception of journeying, the project is aimed at settings outside traditional arts infrastructures. A collaboration between Damien Robinson and Stuart Bowditch, it was a continuation of their exploration of the use of sound, place and vibrations.
You can experience the work in several ways:
You can experience the work in several ways:
- Listen (privately) - insert your personal headphones in the jack sockets
- Listen (publicly) - to the sounds played back through the post speakers
- Look - read the information about the recordings on the screens
- Touch - touch the posts 'feelsound' panel to experience the way the sounds resonate
The first phase was the development of a pilot 'signpost', helping us develop experience and skills, with the longer-term aim of expanding the project.
Signpost was launched at the 2010 Village Green event in Chalkwell Park on 25th September 2010, with an estimated attendance of 28,000 people. At Village Green, it played back sound journeys taken through Colchester, put together from recordings donated by the public, sourced from Essex Sound Archive and made by the artists. It featured archival recordings dating as far back as 1906, allowing audiences to travel through the town simultaneously in place and in time.
Signpost was then on show at the Victoria Shopping Centre, Southend, from 1st to 27th July as part of Artside 2011, an extended installation period, following a kind invitation from Centre staff. Situated on the first floor, it was easily discovered by regular visitors and those passing through.
Signpost was also featured in the Spring 2011 edition of Access by Design, the quarterly journal of the Centre for Accessible Environments, who kindly gave us permission to post a digital version on our websites. Special thanks to Maddy Gray at CAE and Gerry MacNamara at Shape. The project was used by CAE within their training courses as an example of collaborative best practice to achieve accessibility.
Signpost was launched at the 2010 Village Green event in Chalkwell Park on 25th September 2010, with an estimated attendance of 28,000 people. At Village Green, it played back sound journeys taken through Colchester, put together from recordings donated by the public, sourced from Essex Sound Archive and made by the artists. It featured archival recordings dating as far back as 1906, allowing audiences to travel through the town simultaneously in place and in time.
Signpost was then on show at the Victoria Shopping Centre, Southend, from 1st to 27th July as part of Artside 2011, an extended installation period, following a kind invitation from Centre staff. Situated on the first floor, it was easily discovered by regular visitors and those passing through.
Signpost was also featured in the Spring 2011 edition of Access by Design, the quarterly journal of the Centre for Accessible Environments, who kindly gave us permission to post a digital version on our websites. Special thanks to Maddy Gray at CAE and Gerry MacNamara at Shape. The project was used by CAE within their training courses as an example of collaborative best practice to achieve accessibility.
| signpost.pdf |
Signpost website
Between 2010 and 2018, the project had it's own website. This has now been archived. A selection of website screenshots will be added shortly