Join artist Alison Cooper, also known as Magpahi for a magical afternoon of listening, recording, and storytelling to develop her new immersive sound installation coming to Haigh Hall on the 13th of September. Using hydrophones (underwater microphones) you will explore and record the secret underwater soundscape of the Swan Pond at Haigh Hall, tuning in to the gentle gurgles, bubbling life, and echoes beneath the surface. Get hands on with recording equipment to learn how it works and create your own experiments with field sound.
We will gather to share local and international water folklore about water spirits and magical ponds that give us further glimpses beneath the surface of the water. Hear the stories researched by Alison Cooper and artist Anna FC Smith adding your own reflections, tales, legends or mysterious anecdotes.
All the recordings made on the day will create a rich pool of inspiration for Alison’s developing artwork and become part of her compositional sound installation that will sing back across the ornamental lily pond at Haigh Hall during the Bodies of Water launch event on the 13th September.
Wear appropriate footwear for being by the water’s edge (walking shoes or similar), and weather appropriate clothing, bring flasks or water bottles if needed. No previous experience required. Public toilets are located less than 10 mins walk at the Stables.
The water’s edge is accessible to wheelchair users, benches are located a few minutes away.
Please cancel your ticket if you cannot attend to free up places for other people.
About the artist: Alison Cooper is a visual and sound artist, curator, and composer of enigmatic and haunting music under the guise of Magpahi. Her work is a connective exploration of sound. She references history and the archive developing new understandings between narratives of landscape, material culture and human interaction. Alison’s work has featured on Folklore Tapes, BBC Radio 3, and in site-specific installations across the UK.
Curated and produced by UP Projects ‘Bodies of Water’ is a site-specific public art commission by German/Korean artist Anne Duk Hee Jordan, which will unfold across two locations in England A la Ronde in Exmouth, East Devon and Haigh Hall in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 2025. Alison’s work will be part of the launch event on 13th Sept for this public work.
