Arabella GRS 1

Project that may or may not be made

What?

Using prose, music, actors 3D modeling, video, and digital interaction software, Whilst cliffs roar, caves whisper will primarily explore how geological layers can provide a framework for storytelling, and reveal an alternative historical lens. The centre of this work will be a film under 30 minutes in length. In terms of a narrative:

An unusual geological form is discovered along the British coastline and upon inspection begins to show signs of intelligence. Whilst undergoing an investigation by surrounding humans, this being weaves together memory and experience, forming a path to the present moment.

How?

Over the past year I’ve noticed a new narrative approach emerging through my practice. It entails going to a landscape, with equipment: cameras, recording devices, pen and paper - and exploring  the space with these tools but also listening. This is then followed by a writing period, which happens alongside engaging with material I’ve brought back. A form of storytelling grown out of the landscape. 

Why?

It’s hard to pinpoint but I am compelled to write from this cliff space. I’m just going to list some of the most verdant ideas (as of now).

To write about the histories made in this space. The caves/cliffs were sites of clandestine activity, and in a way served as the stage for a kind of resistance against a ruling authority. 

To use the space allegorically to speak about something perhaps more universal - our hidden lives, our exposed life, the cliffs and the caves naturally lend themselves to this discussion.

I also am thinking about the presence of non-human beings throughout time, we’ve lived beside them, they have been listening. I am calling it non-human time telling*.

• meaning how would time be told through a non-human being.

Workflow

Currently I am reviewing footage from a shoot that took place in August. I’m reviewing the footage and asking myself were it leads, what it reveals. From here I am writing and making a soundscape. I’ll combine these and then continue to build like this. I see it either leading to a more conventional process of writing full script, followed by shooting and then editing. Or perhaps something more disjointed or expanded. I won’t know until I have finished this edit for an upcoming deadline of 27th September.

Timetabling

Now - 27th September

Rough draft or mood test for the work.

27th September - April 30th Making, it’s hard to be specific right now - after the 27th I will get more so. 

April 30th - May 31st   finalizing/detailing/thinking about installation

June 1st-July 1st Bringing everything together for the show

Relation to Previous 

In my Text On Practice I wrote “each scene was a geological layer in the cliff, and the cave was what made these layers visible. The cave allowed the story to be told.”. I’m now asking myself, how can I further develop this - how would the cave tell this story? What would it choose to tell, how would it speak…what would it show? These are the questions I’m now beginning with. I am building this approach around the title of Electronic Geology (this term doesn't work litreally but it carries an energy I like at the moment).

I also see this geological approach as similar to my practice of wall writings. In that a rock has a gestalt thing about it, it is one thing but holds many things. So it is so when I use only one large page to record my thoughts over time.  I recently reflected on this…

“The physical fact of two ideas being placed on the same page, allows them to share an environment. They start to in a way to take on a neighbourly relationship, and they quite naturally discuss. This part of the practice warrants more exploration. There’s something of a trust that happens, I trust by putting these two ideas on the page in the same environment that they will reveal to me their connection, their relationship or perhaps I just trust them to get on and co-habit.”

Choices made: Work with sound/music as an essential part of the practice Centralise and develop my writing practice. Recognize what gives me joy to do, and build my practice/workflow around that. The central element will be a film.

RAPID PROTOTYPES

1. Write out some fictional findings, from the perspective of a team of scientists tasked with investigating the cliffs:

August 18th 2025

Tool A was used to measure vibrations both on the cliff and below near the the shore. Vibrations seemed to be within normal range on top of the cliff. On the cost line mostly everything was in range, except occasionally there were areas with unprecedented high peaks. Though there was no noticeable physical difference in our surroundings, one member of the staff, began to feel dizzy and sat down. Both thumbs and their ring finger seemed swollen. The rest of the team were untroubled.