View In, View Out
'View In View Out' (VIVO) is a unique, immersive 360 soundscape presented in Weston-super-Mare this July as part of a national season of art in National Landscapes. It will transform an empty town centre shop into an immersive, multi-layered sound installation.
Inspired by collaborative workshops with young people and community groups - held in the town and the Mendip Hills National Landscape - artists Gwyneth Herbert, Jason Singh and Chris Howard, with producers’ Sound UK and Super Culture, have created a new work, weaving participants’ responses into the sounds of Mendip wildlife, trees, plants and cave acoustics.
VIVO takes you through layers of time and history, soil and stone to hear the stories of ancestors of the caves, the dying song of the ash trees, and the birds of the plateau.
VIVO Trails: Following the launch of the VIVO installation and taking place throughout the summer, people are encouraged to visit the Mendip Hills National Landscape and engage with an augmented reality (audio and animated illustrations) trail on the Mendip. This experience will also be happening in Weston’s South Ward.
The programme is funded by Arts Council England, the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) and National Landscapes in England.
To find out more visit www.naturecalling.org.uk
About the artists
An acclaimed composer, lyricist and performer with connection at the heart of her practice, Gwyneth Herbert has collaborated with artists and communities around the world to create a huge canon of genre-defying work. Commissions include London Sinfonietta, Snape Maltings, Mahogany Opera.
Jason Singh is highly regarded sound artist, beatboxer, DJ and workshop leader, working across installations in museums and the outdoors, live performances and community residencies. Processing bio-data from plants, trees, wildlife, Jason captures the unheard sounds of nature within his compositions. Commissions include BBC, V&A, Milton Keynes Festival, and WOMAD.
Mendip resident, Chris Howard is an award-winning producer and director of British wildlife documentaries including the BBC’s Springwatch and Wild Isles series. He also collaborates with other artists, musicians and authors to bring British wildlife to life in new ways.
Nature Calling is a first for National Landscapes because of its size, scope and the level of investment. It aims to inspire communities across England to connect with National Landscapes, increasing their access to nature, improving their wellbeing, and inspiring a sense of belonging in these special places.
Nature Calling will bring together the 34 National Landscapes in England, local arts organisations and community groups from within a 30-minute journey time of their nearby National Landscape. They will work together to co-create artworks inspired by these iconic places and the results will then be shared with the public in a Season of Art from May – October 2025. It is expected that 70,000 people will take part.
National Landscapes are the UK’s nearby countryside. 66% of people in England (44 million) live within 30 minutes of a National Landscape, over 1 million people live within them and at least 170 million people visit every year. Nature Calling aims to encourage even more communities to feel welcome to enjoy these special places on their own terms.
