SUBHUMAN

Between April and September 2019 Anna Braithwaite worked as composer-in-residence at Chatham Historic Dockyard creating two films with collaborator Matt Rowe and a live performance aboard the HM Submarine Ocelot during her time there.

Chatham Dockyards fell silent on March 31st, 1984, the day of the site’s formal decommissioning. Over the intervening decades, sounds have slowly returned to overwrite the fading echoes from the docks’ many years of service. As the first composer-in-residence here, Anna searched for those lost sounds and found some of her own. She investigated the sparse histories of the widowed women of the Ropery and talked with the men who were confined in the submarine’s claustrophobic intimacies.

These are the images and sounds she imagined for them, her offerings. An encoded communication for the submariners who were never there. A requiem for the women of the factory floor.

 

Rope cycle

Shot on location at Chatham Historic Dockyard. Directed and edited by Matt Rowe and Anna Braithwaite Lighting cameraman: Matt Rowe Performer: Anna Braithwaite Soundtrack: Anna Braithwaite Costume: Anna Braithwaite and Matt Rowe Choreographer: Luke Birch Runner: Ellis Webber Field Recordings: Dr. Sean Williams Translation: Vaughan Pilikian Rope for costume and props supplied by: The Master Ropemakers Anna Braithwaite- www.annabraithwaite.co.uk Matt Rowe - www.mattroweportfolio.co.uk Graphic Design - Elliot Potts www.generaldynamic.studio Supported using public funding by Arts Council England also supported by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Master Ropemakers (Chatham).
 

SUBHUMAN

Shot on location at Chatham Historic Dockyard. Directed by Anna Braithwaite Edited by Anna Braithwaite and Matt Rowe Lighting cameraman: Matt Rowe Performed by Luke Birch Soundtrack composed and performed by Anna Braithwaite Trumpet: Nick Walters Morse created using morsecode.scphillips.com by Stephen C Phillips Runner: Jim Lockey Anna Braithwaite. - www.annabraithwaite.co.uk Matt Rowe - www.mattroweportfolio.co.uk Graphic Design - Elliot Potts www.generaldynamic.studio Supported using public funding by Arts Council England also supported by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Master Ropemakers (Chatham).
 

GIG ABOARD HM SUBMARINE ‘OCELOT’ - 26.09.19

 

IMAGES FROM THE RESIDENCY

Images by Matt Rowe.

 

AUGMENT

I am now researching how to create a VR interpretation of the performance captured my residency film Rope Cycle. Using Unreal Engine I aim to create an immersive, playable sound world whilst artist (and regular collaborator) Matt Rowe recreates an avatar of me performing within a virtual recreation of the original location. I am investigating how ‘players’ might influence/recompose the music themselves as they move through triggers in the space and more generally how the performance will translate into the VR environment.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Research images for the immersive VR artwork.

Mood board for a VR instrument which can be played by the user inside the dockyards inspired immersive space. The instrument sounds and reverberation of the space will be sourced from the dockyard.

This work has been supported by: Hi3 Network [London South Bank University in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University, Creative Folkestone, Maidstone Studios and Screen South]

 
Supported by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Master Ropemakers

Supported by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Master Ropemakers