ATTEMPTS ON MARGARITA
This was a durational sound installation held at Stage One, Leeds in February 2015. For this I began as a seed, curled up tightly on the stage. I grew upwards very slowly, similar to someone doing Tai Chee, into a tree, ending up with my arms out stretched whist singing the English folk song 'I Will Give My Love An Apple.' I then repeated the song backwards whilst shrinking back into a seed. I spent weeks recording myself doing it forwards, then watching it in reverse and imitating the sound and movement as precisely as possible. With every repeat, I recorded my voice with my loop pedal then played it back and added on another layer of harmony so that by the end, a thick web of harmony was created. Like a tree being fleshed out with apples. The lyrics to the folk song are beautiful and I felt matched the atmosphere of Xristina's piece.
I will give my love an apple without e'er a core
I will give my love a house without e'er a door,
I will give my love a palace wherein she may be,
But she may unlock it without any key.
My head is the apple without e'er a core,
My mind is the house without e'er a door.
My heart is the palace wherein she may be
And she may unlock it without any key.
'I Will Give My Love An Apple' sung in reverse
