These are portraits of people using music, found sounds and sound collage.
The intent, like a conventional painted portrait or a photograph, is to show their likeness and personality but with using the medium of sound you can express different aspects of a subject’s character.
Some of the portraits are quite literal, the sound of the subject talking, the sound of where they come from, the sound of what they do, whilst others are more abstract, using music and sounds to create an impression of the subject.
Obviously some of these people I have not met so I can only react to what I see on television or have read about them. Therefore they are my own personal impressions.
Alan Turing
A portrait of Alan Turing using music, found sounds and sound collage, featuring contributions from Professor Kevin Warwick and Professor Ernest Edmonds, quotations from Alan Turing and poetry from fifteen year old poet, Hallie, from Manchester.
The soundscape was generated from Turing Patterns using image to sound software and incorporates recordings of the Bombe, the Second World War and elements from Snow White, a story that meant so much to Alan Turing.
To see videos and to read more about the Alan Turing portrait click here
William S. Burroughs
A portrait of William S. Burroughs reflecting the atmosphere his work creates.
Lawrence Durrell
Lawrence Durrell is one of my favourite writers and this piece reflects the sense of stillness and poetry his work evokes.
David Cameron
This is an example of a very literal sound portrait. The sounds of Eton and Parliament, with MPs jeering, contrasted with David Cameron’s love for The Smiths.
Self Portrait
This is a more musical portrait. It is the style of music when I feel the most like myself when listening to it. I then rubbed a microphone over my body, literally recording the sound of myself.
Tracey Emin
As a lot of Tracey Emin’s work is autobiographical, thereby giving us her own image of herself. I simply took a photo of one of her pieces and then converted that image into sound.
Peter Sellers
A personal view of the comedy of Peter Sellers.
Al Pacino
Al Pacino’s screen persona is often very “edgy” and I wanted this portrait to reflect that. The sharp staccato piano and slightly frenetic percussion emphasises this impression, while the quieter moments show a more thoughtful side.
Jenson Button
Although he is surrounded by the high pressure world of Formula 1 Jenson Button always comes across as a very calm person and this piece reflects that. It was also written after he came to the end of his reign as World Champion so it is tinged with sadness.