Journey’s Through Sound

Inspired by Christina Kubisch’s Electrical Walks in July 2006, a group of pupils from Queen Alexandra College in Harborne worked with Ikon staff and artist Sarah Wilson to create their own walks, journeys and related artworks.

Kubisch’s work enabled a new experience of Birmingham.  Equipped with special magnetic headphones and a map marked with suggested destinations, those participating in the work are offered an auditory adventure that plays with their perception of everyday reality.  Having participated in this walk themselves, students recorded their own sounds whilst walking through Birmingham, making observations and documenting their journey as they walked.

Such documentation formed a series of sound and visual artworks that were subsequently exhibited both at Ikon and back at the College.  Pupils are now continuing to work in experimental ways, developing their creative skills as well as identifying new outlets for their work.

This project was kindly supported by The Ratcliff Foundation, Help a local Child, Douglas Turner Trust and George Fentham.