Eighth Cycle of Paivascapes Artistic Residencies #1
Municipalities of Moimenta da Beira and Vila Nova de Paiva
02 to 15 November 2010

“Revenant” is an ongoing open-configuration project that focuses on site-specific acoustic actions.

All sounds are created from materials found in situ, and from interactions with the space itself. All activity is acoustic, and performances are carried out without amplification. Therefore, the relative sound levels and spatialization are dictated by the space itself, co-inhabited by the performer and spectator until the limits between them dissolve. The name “revenant” derives from a concept of spatial memory or, more specifically, the long-term gestural memory of space; the ability of a place to retain an impression or trace of activity or energy that has been present there.
The artists working with the “Revenant” project are always looking for new and inspiring spaces, in order to continue their research and the overall development of this project. The “Revenant” project also seeks to encourage open collaborations, as well as sonic explorations by artists working with the medium for the first time. In this way, the claim of the ‘artist’ as ‘virtuous’ fades and explorations of the instinctive nature of sound become possible.
The Paiva river project is an ideal opportunity for a next stage of the “Revenant” sound project – an extraordinary environment, with a strong history interacting with a group of artists who are coming into contact with this geographical space for the first time and, potentially, with exploration sound.

A project that, during the artistic residency in question, resulted in five works of video art and/or sound art, respectively:
– “Abandoned House”;
– “Bush”;
– “Metal Bridge”;
– “Mill”;
– “Roman Bridge”;

Something that featured the participation of guest artists such as:

Patrick McGinley – (aka murmer), an American sound and performance artist who has lived in Europe since 1996. He has composed works for various theater performances, including works by his own company, as well as live performances of sound works for others. In 2002, he co-founded “framework”, an organization that produces a weekly radio program in London on “resonance104.4fm”. Murmer’s most recent solo work, “we share a shadow”, was published in late 2007 by The Helen Scarsdale Agency in San Francisco. In 2008, Prele Records published the first document of the collective sound project “revenant”, entitled “revenant: topolo”. Revenant:sound includes explorations into site-specific sound actions, performances, presentations and workshops, and has been a main focus for the artist over the last two years.

During this artistic residency, Patrick McGinley invited to participate in his project: Marja-Liisa Plats (Estonia), illustrator, photographer and singer; Tiago Carvalho (Portugal), environmentalist aesthetics researcher; and Luís Costa (Portugal), Director of Binaural – Associação Cultural de Nodar.

The connection established between the four participants ended up being created quickly in a natural way, helped by the fantastic location and domestic environment provided by the residence.