TONSPUR FOR UKRAINE: Robin Rimbaud – Scanner (GBR): TOGETHER TOGETHER TOGETHER

Opening: Wed 04.05., 19h

It’s so easy at times to take things for granted, such as security, peace, freedom and comfort, but recent global events from Covid to the Ukraine Crisis have alerted us to the instabilities in the world, more so now than ever before.
To be invited to create a work in response to the situation in Ukraine was challenging in itself. Even to consider what value art has to offer in these times, rather than the real efforts of those fighting for their lives, is hugely perplexing. My work is not overtly politically driven or motivated, yet resonates with our times.
I’m aware that in so many ways we remain alone, even whilst in groups, be that school, family or even social encounters. For my installation here I recorded my voice repeating the word ‘together,’ in many different ways. I then used digital tools to splinter this into tiny fragments which over time join together again.
Accompanying the voice is a melody taken from a traditional Ukrainian folk song, treated and processed, so it offers a rather ghostly echo of a stable past in the present. These fragements appear and disappear at random intervals, like a calling to our history.
Together Together Together suggests that no matter how hard we are stripped of our dignity and humanity, we will prevail and continue to rise, even when knocked down. We will remain together, strong as one voice.