LOCKDOWN JOURNAL COVID-19.53 (Lou Hazelwood)
Sub(title)d & La Bohème /IGHDIMH
In the midst of lockdown I felt like I should have been reading, disappearing in to worlds, escaping, but I needed to be present too. So I found that I could get lost in box sets, subtitled box sets, the best of both worlds present but not, reading and listening consumed as a whole.
I started obsessing about the subtleties and categorisation of these subtitles. What was described as the sound of life became more important than the dialogue to me. Are these sounds connected to the sounds that are outside, are the sounds of life changing? I wrote down the subtitled bracketed descriptions from selected dramas and have been reading them as practice as research and understandings of our situations, the work is in progress, Sub(title)d
I have been working for the last couple of years on transposing a pianola roll of La Bohème to several music box scores. This mechanised music changed beyond recognition of its original understanding to be left with just a hint towards it’s original self by the keeping of the title.
During this process I have been thinking about the roles of women and our understanding of the bohemian and hysteric.
Since showing this work last year at The Ropewalk, Barton where the six music boxes and scores came alive by interaction see a performance from the exhibition here.
I have been recording and mixing and working with musician Aby Vulliamy who is adding piano, viola and voice. Part 1 is here for you to listen to.