UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS (2020) is a project bringing together patient ambassadors for Blood Cancer UK and stem cell researchers working at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre. Through a series of stop-motion animation workshops held via Zoom, participants developed hand-cut animation sequences exploring their experiences of ‘the unknown’ in relation to living with blood cancer, the challenges of research and the global uncertainties of Covid-19. Animation materials included paper, velvet and issues of National Geographic published in 1960, the year Blood Cancer UK officially became a charity.
Commissioned by the Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute as part of its Public Engagement programme, project outcomes include an animated film featuring participants’ stop-motion sequences (Futuramic Unknown, 2020) and an installation for the Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Center at Cambridge Biomedical Campus (The Night the Mountains Moved, 2020).
Week Nine
Binaural headphone soundtrack
12 minutes
2020
Composed during lockdown through a long-distance collaboration with Will Heasman, Week Nine is a binaural headphone soundtrack for at-home listening. Featuring an international cast of voices recorded in make-shift home studios across the UK, US and Europe, the soundtrack
uses psychoacoustic composition to explore ideas of mass hypnotism, herd behaviour and sci-fi narratives to create an intimate, immersive sound experience. Week Nine is lockdown
escapism – a story within a story within a surreal reality.
A Fermywoods Contemporary Art + HOME Manchester Homemaker's commission, made with support from Arts Council England & Cambridge Junction. Week Nine is currently available through Fermynwoods Contemporary Art on Soundcloud & Spotify.
