Paso is a barefoot spatial sound experience that remembers the chalk land bridge that once connected Britain to France until its destruction due to a catastrophic flood due to climate change 450,000 years ago. This was a crucial migration route that brought the first land creatures, including the first early humans, into Britain. The collapse of the landbridge was Brexit 1.0 and created Britain as the island we know it today. Participants are invited to take off their shoes, put on a pair of headphones that know your location in the space and walk barefoot over a large rectangular expanse of soil. As you cross the landscape, you encounter areas of different sound and underfoot temperature, transporting you through a story of the land bridge and the animals that inhabited it. The space is lit at ground level with light constnatly fluctuating in colour and intensity. Sections of the earth are heated from beneath. The exhibition is intended to be a friendly space, designed for blind, visually-impaired and sighted visitors alike, and adaptable to access needs.
Paso is produced by Lighthouse, supported by Arts Council England and Re-Imagine Europe. Lighthouse is part of Re-Imagine Europe, which is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. Re-Imagine Europe is initiated by Sonic Acts (NL) and coordinated by Paradiso (NL) in collaboration with Elevate Festival (AT), Lighthouse (UK), Ina GRM (FR), Landmark / Bergen Kunsthall (NO), A4 (SK), Disruption Network Lab (DE), Ràdio Web MACBA (ES), Urban Paradoxes (NL) and Kontejner (HR). The exhibition has been realised with the support of Arts Council England and Fabrica.
Credits:
Alberto Ruiz Soler - Co-creator Antoine Hacheme - VR and unity support Jon Hawkens - Modular synths Ed Kashinsky - Technical support Lola Maury - Expanded choreography advisor Maria Oshodi - Disability consultant Seth Rook Williams - Lighting designer Dr Cecilia Wee - Audience experience consultant Professor Sanjeev Gupta - Geologist and landbridge expert