Everything has Meaning
Discover a hidden dialogue between non-human and humans that produces language.
Introduction
This body of work by artist, musician and academic, Dr Annie Morrad uses improvised tenor saxophone, photography, performance, video and sound to investigate forms of inter-species dialogue conducted through timbre, sound, gesture, rhythm and smell.
Acceptance (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
This interaction is evident as video artwork (and sound) that connects visual communication with receiver through this inter-species dialogue. Each image represents a different aspect of this dialogue.
Gesture (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Gesture
What is a gesture, if not subtle behavioural nuances, change in sounds and movement, a shake of the neck or a shuffle of the feathers.
Texture (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Texture
Like feathers, clothes offer texture, connected to touch and the senses. A dialogue akin to gesture, movement and sound. Similarly this video and image, is being received by the viewer via sight and audio and so, visceral through the ‘touch' of these wavelengths.
Sound
Sound, including ambient sounds (of location, traffic, people and trains) and non-human sounds offer vibrations and structure for the birds. Timbre is a subtle change in sound and texture.
Sound (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
For example, the tonal iridescence of feathers produces a visual timbre.
These subtle changes in the tonality of their feathers and calls offers potential meaning for the receiver. Audible context defines this meaning.
Action (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Action
Action is different from gesture, as this has a decisive outcome.
The nodding of the head, shaking, turning and hissing can be an often misunderstood welcome greeting.
Sentinels
Sentinel - the ones who look out for others. Undistractable vigilance.
Re-Action (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
The Consequences of Actions.
What results from an action?
All actions have consequences. Their actions and movement define their lives. Is the bird asking us to consider our actions?
Flight is action, taking off and landing is often assumed disruption yet instead this may be a form of communication, co-production.
DuckDance (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Movement as Dance
If we consider dance as a form of communication, then the movement of the non-humans is perceptibly the same.
Change (21st Century) by Annie MorradUniversity of Lincoln: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Non-humans rely on improvisation, often placing one action next to a another and, thus, communicating complex nuances.
Dr Annie Morrad is an internationally exhibited artist, musician and Senior Lecturer in the BA and MA Photography degree programmes at University of Lincoln, UK.
Annie works with conceptual ideas on interspecies communication and is opposed to speciesism and hierarchy. Her art practice incorporates: music; installation; photography; performance; video and sound. Annie also plays live improvised tenor saxophone. Her research is based on her view that during the time of ‘gatherers and foragers’ there was one unified language used as communication between non-humans and humans. This was conducted through timbre, sound, gesture, rhythm and smell. Part of this art practice is framed to rediscover forms of this language through dialogue with non-human species.
Website: Annie Morrad Portfolio
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