Drawing on clay
English sound artist Simon Whetham proposed working around the concept of wind, as an invisible force that becomes visible, through drawings and paintings with various types of speakers and using materials found in the area. The paintings and drawings were made with materials from the soil, such as soil, plants and other organic materials found in different places. Additionally, small observations/written records were made in each of the places, sufficiently open to incorporate the climate and the feeling of the place, colors, smells, flavors, the climate and the triggered memories. With the aid of a tape recorder, the narration was explored with written words and phrases, thus previously thought, to be presented together with the resulting visual works.
Since 2005, Simon Whetham has developed a work practice with sound activity as raw material for creation. He uses ambient sounds, employing a variety of methods and techniques in order to obtain sonic phenomena often unnoticed and obscured. By presenting your work in the context of a performance or an installation, the space and objects inside become instruments to be played. His artistic investigations have increasingly directed him towards multidisciplinary projects, making his work more visual and tangible. He is currently exploring ways to retain the physical traces of sound and to transform different forms of energy. Whetham has performed and exhibited in multiple international contexts such as Fresh Winds Biennale 2018 and 2016 (IS), Nakanojo Biennale 2017 (JP), ACC Showcase 2018 (KR), Tsonami Festival 2017 and 2012 (CL), Madeiradig 2010 and 2011 (PT ) and Moers Festival 2011 (DE); he has a large number of sound works published in specialized publishers, including Mappa (SK), Crónica (PT) and Line (USA) and he also collaborates with dancers, musicians, performers, painters and video artists.