To announce the launch of the Ambient Literature project, the project team created the first in a series of small experiments to accompany the three commissions contained within the project programme. The first of these – Experiment i – explored the history of the area surrounding Carmelite House, a site on the bank of the River Thames, one steeped in mythology, religion and murder. Now the home of Hachette UK, Carmelite House served as host for the Ambient Literature launch event.
The work was premiered on June 30th in London, and made use of the audience’s presence as guests at Carmelite House, offering them an opportunity to experience situated storytelling; a curtain-raiser for the two-year programme of work.
Invitations to the launch contained either brick dust, river water or fragments of a torn bible. On arriving at the launch, the audience could choose to listen to three audio narrations, each corresponding to a specific city vista.
Experiment i consists of three audio pieces and headphones are recommended. The following text offered an introduction to the whole story:
This room did not exist thirty years ago.
Beneath your feet are offices, corridors, perched atop a site with a specific, resonant history. A site where people, just like you and I, go about their day.
Thirty years ago, this site was combed by detectives searching Blackfriars for clues to an impossible suicide.
A hundred years before, a lonely child built a life through the pages of sacred books.
A thousand years further back, and for centuries before then, the river roared outside.
One story.
Three accounts.
Brick
Book
Water
Experiment i was written by Tom Abba. Audio production by Dominic Grant. Production input, design and direction by the whole Ambient Literature project team.
On experiments, generally
Ambient Literature is an ongoing process merging academic research, practical experiments and technical development. We have three commissioned works that form the backbone of our project, but are keen to demonstrate practice as research through smaller iterations too. Each experiment will address a research question arising from our ongoing seminar series and be publicly presented as we move through the whole programme.
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