THE HEARING HAND PROJECT

This project aimed to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing and mindfulness whilst encouraging those taking part to explore quiet reflection and self-expression through the mediums of listening, hearing and mark making. Listening and responding with instinctive mark making and recording sounds which are meaningful can provide an outlet for emotions that are difficult to express in other ways.

By combining these elements of sound and mark, the project invited participants to explore the emotional power of sound and to take away something positive from their own experience of taking part.

Participants Invitation

Participants were asked to listen to birdsong, responding with marks and images. Then record their own cathartic sounds. Their contributions formed part of a sound and visual installation put together by multi-disciplinary visual artist, Rebecca Barnard, combining the sounds and responses from participating members of the Somerset community, which were part of the exhibition, CATHARSIS at Heritage Courtyard Gallery, Wells in April 2023.

SOUND INSTALLATION - THE HEARING HAND PROJECT

Using the huge variety of calming and cathartic sounds sent in by participating volunteers for this project, (41 in total), Rebecca created a series of emotional spaces through which the listener can roam.

The sounds layer and wander in and out of these emotional areas, perhaps provoking mood changes, nostalgic references and a host of different feelings. Everyone will experience these waves in their own way.

Sound has a profound power to evoke emotion. It directly stimulates the emotional centres of the brain and is closely connected to our memories and experiences.