HOW TO HEAR DUST
HOW TO HEAR DUST explores the interconnectedness of noise and air pollution, specificall Heathrow as one of the world’s busiest airports. Heathrow’s roaring flight paths
weaving contrails through the skies of London are the site of investigation for How To Hear Dust: a short audio-visual essay to be presented as a single screen
video installation with 5.1 multichannel sound[1]
Noise, as atmospheric matter and ephemeral event is an experience difficult to represent. It draws attention to unpleasurable and unwanted entanglements of body and
atmosphere. By treating airborne noise as resource rather than waste, my aim is to explore the atmospheric qualities of the embodied event affected by ubiquitous
vibrating matter, and background noise as ambient sound. Sustained research into the politics of anthropogenic climate change, climat activism concerning fossil fuels and aviation, and on-the-ground field research with Heathrow workers, local residents, noise activists and plain spotter communities, has revealed the political divide that surrounds this subject.
weaving contrails through the skies of London are the site of investigation for How To Hear Dust: a short audio-visual essay to be presented as a single screen
video installation with 5.1 multichannel sound[1]
Noise, as atmospheric matter and ephemeral event is an experience difficult to represent. It draws attention to unpleasurable and unwanted entanglements of body and
atmosphere. By treating airborne noise as resource rather than waste, my aim is to explore the atmospheric qualities of the embodied event affected by ubiquitous
vibrating matter, and background noise as ambient sound. Sustained research into the politics of anthropogenic climate change, climat activism concerning fossil fuels and aviation, and on-the-ground field research with Heathrow workers, local residents, noise activists and plain spotter communities, has revealed the political divide that surrounds this subject.
In the absence of these polyphonic voices, I attempt a methodology that mediates an immersive experience, and that reflects upon and aestheticises the complex entanglement of an environmental, health, financial and culture crises.
Filming and listening to (airborne) noise pollution, up close and from afar takes place pre, during and post Covid-19 lockdowns to dispense with linear narrative. Through the stylistic choice and singular structure of scrolling film and binaural panning, that mimics the rectilinear form of the aviopolis, the work becomes its own performative score, to invoke an ugly-beautiful,
overbearing and always present ephemerality.
[1] due to Covid restrictions of accessing equipment/studios the sound is a
binaural headphone mix and the video displayed online
Filming and listening to (airborne) noise pollution, up close and from afar takes place pre, during and post Covid-19 lockdowns to dispense with linear narrative. Through the stylistic choice and singular structure of scrolling film and binaural panning, that mimics the rectilinear form of the aviopolis, the work becomes its own performative score, to invoke an ugly-beautiful,
overbearing and always present ephemerality.
[1] due to Covid restrictions of accessing equipment/studios the sound is a
binaural headphone mix and the video displayed online
HOW TO HEAR DUST from Lia Mazzari on Vimeo.