Open call for stories to inspire

WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL

A new touring Covid-19 memorial artwork by Emily Peasgood

Award-winning sound artist and composer Emily Peasgood is creating a new interactive sound installation (with lyrics by Kate Lynn-Devere).

Emily Peasgood has previously created two artworks that explore grief and loss: Halfway to Heaven (Folkestone Triennial, 2017) and Requiem for Crossbones (Illuminate Productions, 2018). This new artwork will acknowledge and commemorate the many lives lost through the Covid-19 Pandemic and will tour across the United Kingdom, it will feature sound and visuals.

Are you looking for a way to help keep your loved one’s memory alive? Or a way to process how you feel about losing them? Do you have any stories you would like to share?

We are looking for people who have stories to share about loved ones who died from Covid-19 in the UK. Anyone who has a story to share can take part.

“I want this artwork to take inspiration from the public’s words and stories; it will help to honour our memories and provide a meaningful legacy for our loved ones. To help us create this meaningful work, we would like to hear from people who lost someone in the Covid-19 Pandemic.

”

— Emily Peasgood

We would love you to share a special story about your loved one, in whatever way you are most comfortable. This could be in the form of a love letter, a poem, written text, a voice recording or a video recording. You can tell us anything at all.

We don’t expect you to be a writer, voice actor, or filmmaker. We just want you to tell your story in whatever way is best for you”.

Share your story by clicking on one of the links below:

ONLINE FORM

FACEBOOK MESSENGER

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Emily Peasgood

Emily Peasgood (born 1981 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire) is an Ivor’s Award winning composer, sound artist and multi-disciplinary artist creating interactive musical artworks for public spaces, ranging from large-scale community events to intimate and moving sound installations.

Emily uses intricate sound and technology design to invite people to connect with each other and with places that are forgotten, overlooked, or surrounded by histories that can be remembered through sound. For example, see: Halfway to Heaven (Folkestone Triennial, 2017).

“Sound and music can evoke truth, history, and the imagination in such a unique way. I see my work as creating sonic spaces that invite people to be a part of a new story” – Emily Peasgood, 2022.

From graveyards, to public lifts and even rubber chickens, Emily’s work explores the human condition in equal measure, highlighting the absurdity and fragility of life. Her work is described as magical (Times), evocative (The Telegraph), and memorable (A-N). She pushes the boundaries of what music and sound is believed to be. For example, in 2019 she recorded her hip replacement surgery to make a new musical work.

Emily has created work for prestigious galleries and events such as Folkestone Triennial, Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery and Turner Contemporary and has exhibited works in outdoor locations including Fort Burgoyne, Hastings funicular railway, public lifts around the UK, and Cross Bones graveyard in Southwark. Her sound works have been shortlisted for Ivor’s Composers Awards in the categories of Community Projects and Sonic Art on seven occasions, one of which she won in 2018 for Halfway to Heaven (Folkestone Triennial). She received her PhD in creating accessible musical artworks in the community in 2019.

Emily Peasgood has worked with lyricist Kate Lynn-Devere in previous artworks: When I Grow Up I Want To Be A Ship (a space arts, 2022), Requiem for Crossbones (Illuminate Productions, 2018), I Would Rather Walk With You (The Land Trust for Pioneering Places East Kent, 2022), Katherine (Art in Romney Marsh, 2019) and Never Again (Ideas Test, 2018).

www.emilypeasgood.com

Kate Lynn-Devere

Kate Lynn-Devere studied music and songwriting at Canterbury Christ Church University. Since losing much of her hearing to Meniere's disease, Kate has concentrated on lyric writing and collaborating with Emily. Kate has personal experience of grief and loss, having lost her thirteen year old daughter Alex in 2005 and her brother Geoffrey in 2020 and will treat all shared stories sensitively in writing lyrics for this memorial work.

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