Central Arts, Wednesday 10th April at 1:00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Although you may not be familiar with the name Chris Watson, you are likely to have heard his work. Watson is the sound recordist responsible for capturing the animals and atmospheres that breath life into many of David Attenborough’s enthralling BBC wildlife documentaries. Watson has received BAFTA awards for his work on both ‘The Life of Birds’ and ‘Frozen Planet’. On Wednesday April 10th Chris Watson will be visiting Waterford to present and deconstruct his work in front of a live audience.
Watson’s fascination with sound began as a teenager when he started recording birdsong, and his passion grew further when he got his hands on a hydrophone (underwater microphone) that enabled him to explore a whole new world of sound in the sea. The sounds of limpets grazing and the crackling noises made by shrimp captivated him so much that he made sound recording his career.
Fast forward a few decades and that fascination is still evident in Watson’s work. One story he tells is of ‘fishing for sound’ on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. He cut a hole through the iced over sea and lowered a hydrophone in the water. He describes what he heard in his headphones as haunting and beautiful singing that was almost operatic, and in the range of human voices. He was enchanted and mystified by the sounds. After much searching and inquiry he eventually identified the sounds as being the song of bearded seals who were more than 20KM away from his fishing spot.
The event is presented by Waterford Institute of Technology’s Department of Creative and Performing Arts & Nemeton TV. The event is free for W.I.T. students, with a limited number of tickets available on the door for members of the public for a €5.00 donation.
Further information about Chris Watson may be found by please clicking here
Further information about the event may be found by please clicking here
For more information please contact Mark Graham at mgraham@wit.ie &/or on +353(0)87 2958785.
Central Arts, Central Hall, 123a Parade Quay, Waterford.
Tel: +353(0)86 454 3246
Web: www.centralarts.ie/