From Egypt to Vietnam, Ukraine to Myanmar: Several international projects and collaborations come to fruition at Sonica 2024, Glasgow's festival of visual sonic art taking place from September 19-29.
These collaborations, developed over several years, offer Glasgow audiences a unique perspective on pressing global issues, from exploring the impact of war and political upheaval to addressing climate change through art.
Some highlights of work originating from British Council-supported connections and funds include:
- Myanmar's cosmic electronic musician Heft making his UK debut.
- Egyptian artists exploring themes from urban transformation to climate change.
- A Vietnam-UK collaboration showcasing northern Vietnam's landscape and culture.
- A UK-Ukrainian partnership with an installation examining interpersonal bonds during wartime.
- A UK-France co-production bringing underwater coral reef conservation to life.
(Read more below about each project)
Programmes such as International Collaboration Grants, the UK-Vietnam Season of Culture, and the UK/Ukraine Creative Partnerships, have fostered artistic connections across the world over the last three years and are now reaching audiences at Sonica in 2024.
Norah Campbell, Head of Arts at British Council Scotland, reflects on the festival: "Sonica beautifully demonstrates how art can transcend borders and enable cultural exchange. We're thrilled to see the culmination of exciting international collaborations that were sparked two, or even three years ago during the pandemic, and it's wonderful to see this work 'come home' to Scotland. We're also helping to bringing global industry delegates to the festival, continuing our efforts to create a platform for meaningful dialogue and future partnerships in the visual sonic arts sector."
Cathie Boyd, Artistic Director of Cryptic, added: "we’ve had a long-term collaboration with the British Council who have helped us bring exceptional international artists to Glasgow. The seeds planted have blossomed into remarkable projects that now offer Glasgow audiences a unique opportunity to experience cutting-edge visual sonic art from around the world. In Cryptic’s 30th anniversary year, international exchange remains at the heart of Sonica's mission to push boundaries and inspire curious minds."
In addition to celebrating these artistic collaborations, the British Council is facilitating the attendance of global industry delegates at Sonica 2024. These seven delegates, from cultural institutions in five countries including Brazil, Rwanda, Turkey, Philippines and Senegal, will join other global delegates and have the opportunity to engage with the festival's artists, attend performances, and participate in networking events. This initiative aims to foster new international collaborations, create future opportunities for artists, and strengthen global cultural ties.
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Read more about Sonica’s full programme:
A special focus on artists from Egypt, with support from British Council Egypt:
- Ahmed El Shaer's "The Narrative": A virtual tour beneath Glasgow's City Chambers, revealing secret symbology and untold stories. (19-29 September, Glasgow City Chambers)
- Ahmed Saleh's "A Ten Year Walk to the Shore": (19 September, Tramway) A musical work warning of rising sea levels threatening Alexandria, blending historical floods with future predictions.
- Ghada Eissa's "I Was in the Tide, The Tide Was in Me": (19-29 September, The Lighthouse). An audiovisual installation exploring recovery and mutation in the aftermath of crisis.
- Shadwa Ali's "Resonance of the Gyre": (28 September, The Glad Café). A film using lockdown footage to depict eerily deserted environments full of possibility. And "Beyond the Shore": An audiovisual work presenting bizarre and beautiful models for future ways of living, inspired by Alexandria's rapid changes.
UK-Vietnam Cultural Collaboration:
- "The Field of Heritage" by Vietnamese artist Quoc Trung and digital artist Veronica Petukhov: (27 September, Tramway) An audiovisual collaboration evoking northern Viet Nam's unique landscape and culture, supported by the British Council's UK/Viet Nam Season 2023 and Season Legacy Grant.
UK-Myanmar Artistic Bridge:
- Burmese musician Heft's UK debut performance: (26 September, Tramway) Presenting cosmic electronic music from his album "Mensch", accompanied by VJ Georgina Penstkart's analogue visuals. Supported by the British Council's Connections Through Culture, UK-East Asia Grants.
UK-Ukraine Creative Partnerships:
- "(You) Let the Sky Fall" installation by Ukrainian artist Kseniia Shcherbakova: (19-29 September, Goethe-Institut) A newly commissioned work exploring how interpersonal bonds are strengthened amid the traumas of war, supported by British Council's UK/UA Creative Partnerships Programme.
UK-France Spotlight on Culture:
- "Tapemoana: Twilight Zone" by Alex Smoke and Paul Duncombe: (29 September, Tramway) A poetic depiction of the surreally beautiful world below the waves and an urgent call to action. Duncombe uses visual data collected from coral reefs in the South Pacific, while composer Alex Smoke provides a dreamy, ethereal score. This work is supported by the British Council's Spotlight on Culture UK-France 2024 Fund, in partnership with Station Mir, festival interstice, and Normandie Impressionniste.