CHURCH OF PLAY (2024)
Site-specific Installation.
About the
CHURCH OF PLAY
This site-specific installation was commissioned by the music box project for their festival “CUT PASTE PLAY” which was presented at Church Street Studios (23-24 March 2024).
The idea for this installation came about in response to the festival themes combined with the space itself. It functioned as a way to invite people into the space and prepare them to be open to the exploratory sounds of the performers.
The view of performances in the festival through the lenses of the 3d glasses – Images by Sebastian Schmid
The work consisted of three main stages; a calling font, a sound immersion, and a space come to life.
The baptismal font at the entrance whispered the names of guests as they entered, literally inviting them in. 3D glasses were available to put on upon entry as well.
Three sets of headphones offered guests the chance to immerse themselves in an overwhelming soundscape – constructed out of the music of all the festival’s performers.
Finally, after being immersed, guests were able to walk through the space and experience a droning soundscape constructed out of the instruments on display.
Cellophane was used to indicate instruments that had been “brought to life/made 3D”, and guests wore 3D glasses to show they had been “baptised” into the “CHURCH OF PLAY”
“On entering Church Street Studios audiences were immersed in another world…”
— Lliane Clarke for classikON
“The work was almost uncomfortably site-specific…”
— Maddy Briggs for Limelight
CUT PASTE PLAY
Some more pictures of the festival.
Isabella also performed with the festival orchestra (on lever harp) to play in In 4 and Sticky.
Isabella Rahme 