The Doors
Early in 2017, ten exterior doors were hung in locations across the streets of Bristol. They were left to organically gather their own identities from the life happening around them.
Nine months later and the doors no longer reside in their urban dwellings. Instead they lie awaiting the first of many residencies of a very different nature; in galleries across the country.
The doors have now been framed and are on display from 15 December at 44AD in Bath.
In 2018, they will be exhibited around the country before being auctioned off, with 100% of profits being donated to charities supporting people in critical need.
Proximity Bristol reflects upon the critical situation of homelessness and disparity in the UK. It is the second in a series of audio-visual experiments by Yoke Music, a record producer and sound designer based near Bath in Somerset. A pro bono commission for the art exhibition ‘Outdoors’, the Proximity Bristol soundtrack was chosen by curator Beau to feature at the first public display of 'Outdoors'. Held at the 44AD Art Gallery in Bath and attended by members of the 'Bath Percent Club' the Proximity Bristol score was a huge success with attendants referring to it as 'a form of Musique Concrete', and 'a juxtaposition of modulated field recordings by Mengqiong Zhou and melodic improvisations by Yoke Music'.
Yoke Music, what inspired you to create these audio-visual experiments ?
Early in 2017 I received a phone call from the conceptual artist Beau who at the time was very excited by my previous audio-visual work The Bipolar Express. Beau expressed how much he wanted my compositional style to become a feature in his art project and invited me to Bristol to discuss composing for 'Outdoors': an art exhibit donating 100% of profits to charities supporting people in critical homeless situations. Having experienced homelessness myself I was inspired by the projects aim to help people and felt it would be a great way to encourage conversations about a growing crisis. It's shocking to learn there are more than 307,000 people homeless in Britain with 13,000 more people either sleeping rough or in temporary accommodation compared to this time last year.
How did you get into and then out of your homeless situation ?
It happened gradually – I was in my early 20s and my priorities were pretty much creating music, drinking and taking drugs. I’d just left my foster home and had no idea how to handle money, budget or save for bills etc. I really had no clue, so less than a year after leaving care I was homeless and occasionally ended up sleeping rough. For the best part of the next decade I bounced back and forth between having a temporary home and no fixed abode. This went on until I managed to secure a place at the Southampton Solent University to study music and record production.
How have your experiences of homelessness contributed to your audio-visual projects like Proximity Bristol ?
Naturally my personal experiences are a resource I draw on, but there is a truth within Proximity Bristol that I merely unlocked the door to. For me it is a journey into a brooding consciousness made up from sounds captured in the streets and alleyways where people sleep rough. Places considered dangerous, places a lot of people would not go, particularly at night. Political confrontation is literally knocking at the subconscious throughout the auditory experience with sounds that feel industrial, brutal and bleak. But beauty can live in strange places and come from unlikely sources. For me the combination of organic found sounds and melodic music evokes feelings of hope, courage and pride. There is vitality present within Proximity Bristol that exists in all communities, if only people would open their ears to it.
What is the message you’d like to get out to homeless people ?
The messages of leading charities and organisations experienced at helping people in crisis. You are "far from alone". It may be difficult to do but the first step is to seek help from expert housing advisers. I personally received support from Shelter, a registered charity that campaigns to end homelessness and bad housing in England and Scotland. Living near Bath I would also encourage people to visit: Genesis Trust who 'offer hope, support and a future to homeless and vulnerable people in Bath: Julian House with 'over 20 services offering support for homelessness, addiction recovery, domestic violence and more'.
To support Shelter please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70080 to donate £3
For information on how to help Genesis Trust please visit: www.genesistrust.org.uk/
Join one of Julian House's many fundraising events www.julianhouse.org.uk
The Outdoors Art Auction by Beau www.ayearoutdoors.com