SEVEN KINDS OF SILENCES

During my recent residency in Atina (Italy), I wanted to make a study of the silences of the local library, view on the valley, museum, church and historic buildings. I became inspired by the dimensional and introspective power of these spaces when empty. Late in the evening or in the very early morning, when little noise is produced by everyday life, these spaces still possess their own sounds, be it the tick of a clock, a door opening, or even a distant conversation; each sound within the acoustic space reveal a strong sense of  time and space.
 I wanted to convey an experience of these spaces, by describing what I thought was surrounding my body. I sat whilst with my eyes closed in seven different buildings and spaces, recording my impression of each by speaking into a recording devise the description of the sound which I guessed by listening to what, according to my senses was happening in these spaces. I have transcribed the recording and printed it on paper.

Atina (Italy) August 2013 Colour.it artists residency

SEVEN KINDS OF SILENCES
ATINA - 2013 Christian Patracchini

CHURCH OF SAN MARCO Sunday 11th August 04.40pm
Behind – A cane tapping slowly on the floor; coming forward…heavy breathing Front – Soft steps and giggles of two French children Left side – A grandmother whispering loudly…venite qua! Right side – Echoing coins inside the box under the candle holder LIBRARY Wednesday 14th August 10.00am Behind – Typing gradually speeding up on a tired keyboard Front – Friendly hands stacking books on a shelf Left side – A voice asking; is anybody here? Steps coming down from a ladder Right side – A printer technical fault GARIBALDI SQUARE Monday 12th August 06.00am Front – The sun doesn’t listen anymore Behind – Bells nearby and a dog barking from a distance Left side – Four packs of newspapers being put on the floor next to a shop Right side – Two men wishing each other a good day (one from a car) RESIDENCY SPACE (FORMER NURSERY) Tuesday 13th August 02.10am Behind – Andy struggling to open the door Front – Folds of a curtain touching the wall; doors and windows slamming Left side – Pacing around in the next-door studio Right side – (wind through the window) Maps and drawings cascading from the Grand Piano ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Wednesday 14th August 03.30pm Behind – Talks about the Mayor Front – Calm before the storm Left side – Air Conditioning unit blowing cold air (and getting stuck at times) Right side – Nagging roaring of a lawnmower and at the buzzing of a wasp DUCAL PALACE Saturday 10th August 09.30pm Behind – Echo of chairs being moved Front – Recital of chamber music before applause Left side – A cultured lady making comments (not too loudly) on the white night Right side – Suffocated sneezing TERRAZZA LOOKING AT THE VALLEY Monday 12th August 08.00am Front – Old literature makes me dizzy Behind – Setting up of market stalls Left side – A cat coming to observe me Right side – A Californian middle age couple going for a walk