Cara Tolmie

Listening Curtain, 2019
Velvet, wool, nylon

This large fabric acts as a soft, malleable architecture, able to create delineated listening spaces within different venues. Sewn onto the dark velvet are two interpretations of a pillar and the rib bones of one of the oldest bi-pedal females – “Dinkinesh”, known in the west as “Lucy” named after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. In collaboration with Susanna Jablonski.

Crooning Inwardly, Gyrating Discreetly, 2020
Soundwork
9 min

This sound work weaves together several recordings of a vocal practice developed by the artist called Internal Singing. This practice explores sounding on both the inhale and exhale as well as a self-soothing touch strategy that Cara developed in reaction to symptoms triggered by post-concussion syndrome. It is a multi-sensory listening exercise characterised by circular vocal sound, slight movement and touch that attempts to displace vocality through and towards parts of the body extraneous to the mouth.

The Internal Singing unfolds as follows: “I concentrate on my breathing and quieten my body. I focus my attention on my skin as a tender transmitter between the inside of my body and its touchable outside surface. I sense two points where my body is asking to be touched. I slowly raise my hands and allow them to be pulled towards these two points on my body. I concentrate once more on my breath and very slowly allow sound to emerge both from the inhale and the exhale. I imagine these sounds to be pulled out of, around and between the two points I hold on my body. I do not imagine these sounds in advance but try to allow them to emerge of their own volition. I then play these sounds through my body, manipulating and exploring them through small repeated movements and increased/decreased pressure around the touch points. In this way I can send the vocal sounds inside of my body to the points that are being pressurised by my touch. I can also send the sounds through my skin to my fingertips. Within this I find new vocal sounds by imagining my voice moving between and through the two points, soaking through the material of my flesh, organs, nerves and blood.”

Cara Tolmie (b. 1984, Glasgow) is an artist based in Stockholm. Together with Susanna Jablonski she run the research project Gender of Sound.

Work

Listening Curtain, 2019
Velvet, wool, nylon

Location

Luleå konsthall
21.11–14.2

Work

Crooning Inwardly, Gyrating Discreetly, 2020
Soundwork
9 min

Location

Luleå konsthall
21.11–14.2