‘The Art of Sound Between World & Between Shadows’

From September 2013, the 13th Biennial Parallel Events Programme, organised by Istanbul’s Foundation for Culture and Arts, will see featured a powerful thought-provoking installation by Greek-born painter and sculptor, Kalliopi Lemos.

The exhibition entitled ‘I Am I Between Worlds and Between Shadows’ focuses on the wounding of human dignity; suffered by women and children across the globe. Their plight is represented through a series of austere sculptures made of steel fillings, fiberglass and mild steel-an expression of the effect of suppression on their psyche.

Lemos’ choice of location for the exhibition, an old abandoned girls school in Istanbul, will also include a bespoke sound installation, created by Factory Studios, London, audio engineer Tom Joyce, and is set to evoke the atmosphere of the old establishment.

Kalliopi explains, “What I am aiming to achieve with the sound is to bring back the feeling of life and hope in a kind of ghostly manner, and to allow it to contrast with the hopelessness of despair of the sculptures. Sound and especially the human voice carry life in an environment and generate feeling and empathy to help connect with the subject.”

Sound in installation art can be an important and integrative aspect of the overall experience of a project of this nature. London-based sound designer Tom Joyce adds:

“I believe sound is very powerful tool when used in a space. It gives the installation a heightened sensory experience and becomes very immersive. Sound adds movement through space as it reverberates around itself. When Kalliopi and I first collaborated together on ‘Navigating the Dark part 3’ at the Crypt Gallery, London, the viewer used all their senses. On this current project we have recorded a number of children's voices; adding a nostalgic yet eerie feel to this abandoned school. This has an interesting juxtaposition with Kalliopi’s work.”

The creation and exhibit of the part-human, part-animal sculptures is set to engage the viewer to re-assess and question the worlds understanding on dealing with women and children deeply affected by social malaise.

The installation runs from 11th September -10 November 2013 at the Ioakimion School for Girls in Istanbul, Turkey.