Interview with artist Michael Thomas Hill about his Forgotten Songs urban installation
What is the basic concept behind the project?
We have attempted to show that changes to the environment alter many unseen aspects of life. In this installation we have highlighted the changes to the acoustic environment – the sound of the city – through the loss of native bushland. Our installation comprises a canopy of bird cages and a soundscape. Some cages have speakers within them that play back the songs of the species of birds which used to live in the city, but don’t any longer due to changes to the landscape.
We have attempted to show that changes to the environment alter many unseen aspects of life. In this installation we have highlighted the changes to the acoustic environment – the sound of the city – through the loss of native bushland. Our installation comprises a canopy of bird cages and a soundscape. Some cages have speakers within them that play back the songs of the species of birds which used to live in the city, but don’t any longer due to changes to the landscape.
How many cages will be suspended in the laneway? Where have they been sourced?
We have over one hundred bird cages. Most of them are second hand and sourced from people we met through eBay, or word of mouth. We got a lot from the side of the road and from second hand stores. We also have a few new ones from a local manufacturer.
We have over one hundred bird cages. Most of them are second hand and sourced from people we met through eBay, or word of mouth. We got a lot from the side of the road and from second hand stores. We also have a few new ones from a local manufacturer.
Will the cages be illuminated at night?
The laneway is lit at night and the bird cage installation makes interesting use of the shadows cast on the walls of the lane. The soundscape alters at night to play the sounds of the nocturnal birds, like the frogmouths, owls and nightjars.
The laneway is lit at night and the bird cage installation makes interesting use of the shadows cast on the walls of the lane. The soundscape alters at night to play the sounds of the nocturnal birds, like the frogmouths, owls and nightjars.
Are the birdsongs actual recordings or are they digitally produced? Are they the sounds of birds native to Sydney city?
The birdsongs are actual recordings of species from around Sydney still living in bushland. Richard Major from the Australian Museum has been working with us on the project and has compiled a list of birds that could have been found near or around the Angel Place area before the arrival of Europeans. The resulting habitat loss as the city grew means that these birds, especially small insect eating birds, have had to flee to the edges of the city where they can find food and nesting sites. Bigger opportunists like the white ibis and sulphur crested cockatoos, as well as the introduced species like pigeons and mynahs, all thrive in the city. These are the calls we often notice today if we can hear anything above the traffic.
The birdsongs are actual recordings of species from around Sydney still living in bushland. Richard Major from the Australian Museum has been working with us on the project and has compiled a list of birds that could have been found near or around the Angel Place area before the arrival of Europeans. The resulting habitat loss as the city grew means that these birds, especially small insect eating birds, have had to flee to the edges of the city where they can find food and nesting sites. Bigger opportunists like the white ibis and sulphur crested cockatoos, as well as the introduced species like pigeons and mynahs, all thrive in the city. These are the calls we often notice today if we can hear anything above the traffic.
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