Tenalach by Alexandra Mas

Tenalach

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Hearing the Earth's Voice "We are the Earth, You are the stranger…' ​ Alexandra Mas presents an in situ installation at the canal level of the Palazzo Pisani Revedin, Venezia, serving as a symbolic reminder of the vigilant scrutiny of nature and its creatures. Visitors are guided along a concrete path, leading them into the heart of the piece. Suspended in the air, a multitude of eyes crafted to resemble various animal forms, observe the passersby.​ ​ Mas's work is enhanced by a choral soundscape composed of voices and nature sounds recorded by the artist, building on her signature multi-leveled auditory experience. This soundscape deepens the installation’s thematic exploration, invoking a sense of indignation and prompting viewers to reflect on their place within the natural world. Titled "Tenalach," the soundscape invites contemplation of the Earth's lamentation, emphasising our status as outsiders on this planet. Through this multi-sensory experience, Mas compels us to listen closely to the Earth’s melancholic song and confront the environmental and existential estrangement we face. In this soundscape, a tapestry of voices and languages weaves together, featuring a notable contribution from Brazilian-French artist Célia Gouveiac. Her recordings, captured in the heart of the Amazonian forest and among the Fulmi-ô-Povos people of Northeast Brazil, add a rich, authentic dimension to the auditory experience. These are complemented by bird recordings from university professor and doctor in ornithology Tudor Draganoiu, sea sounds from Marco Tassini, and a variety of other sounds provided by the artist herself. Voices: Diane Pernet, Célia Gouveiac, Gaby Burke, Francesca Fasulo, Amal Ihajri, Ira De Puiff, Hanna Mare, Maria Fatima Haselhuber, Robin Seger, Hugues Lechanoine, and the powerful contributions of several children. Five-year-old Christian Alexander Schanz portrays a bear, Giulio Tassini, 5, embodies an eagle, Leonardo Lechanoine, 6, gives voice to a lion, 4 years old Andrade Da Siva Guezou is a squirrel in a burning forest, and 5 years old Remy Marie Burke is Earth.

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sound art
field recording