ArchiveTalks & Events
Film/Video Screening
Immersive Listening & Screening: Voices of the Rainforest by Steven Feld, followed by an online in-conversation with Jol Thoms
25 Jun 2023 12-7pm
Nottingham Contemporary
Nottingham NG1 2GB
Overview
Join us for the listening and screening of Voices of the Rainforest: A Day in the Life of Bosavi by Steven Feld. The event will be followed by an online in conversation with Jol Thoms.
Directed and produced by acclaimed ethnomusicologist and anthropologist Steven Feld, Voices of the Rainforest is a multisensorial, experiential soundscape and documentary about the ecological and aesthetic coevolution of Papua New Guinea’s Bosavi rainforest region and its inhabitants.
The film immerses viewers in the rainforest, making myriad connections between the everyday sounds of the rainforest biosphere and the creative practices of the Bosavi people who sing to, with, and about it.
Voices of the Rainforest was produced by Steven Feld and Dennis Leonard and Directed by Steven Feld and Jeremiah Ra Richards in collaboration with the Bona community of Bosavi, Papua New Guinea. Feld conducted anthropological and ethnomusicological fieldwork in Bosavi from 1975 to 2000. The original Voices of the Rainforest CD was produced during this time (1991) with production support from Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. Working with acclaimed sound editor Dennis Leonard at Skywalker Sound in 2016-2017, Feld recomposed a 25th anniversary 7.1 Voices soundtrack. A 2018 return to Bosavi with filmmaker Jeremiah Ra Richards and digitization of Feld's extensive archival photographs led to the creation of the immersive film joined to the 7.1 soundtrack.
As part of the All the Birds Sing Bass, we will first listen the Voices of the Rainforest CD (1991) and then watch the film, which will be available throughout the day at our Space. The day will end with an online in-conversation between Steven Feld and Jol Thoms.
Programme:
12-1pm: Listening session of Voices of the Rainforest
1-5pm: The screening of Voices of the Rainforest
6-7pm: Online In-conversation between Steven Feld and Jol Thoms