Kyna Hodges

Kyna investigates versions of reality, through an exploration of our relationship with materials, technology and each other.

Utilising the senses, she aims to provide a space that both challenges and enables a rethinking of entrenched beliefs and patterns of thought and behaviour; a space that connects to, and has the potential for, creating new narratives for a more humane and sustainable future. 

Her projects usually consists of three elements: photography, sculpture and connection/collaboration, combined into one project or addressed separately. More specifically, she works with one of the oldest photographic processes called wet plate collodion. She is interested in this process because it is slow and physical in its creation, each image is unique and it shows the movement of chemicals across a metal plate and it reveals elements of the environment that it was taken in. Imperfect and lasting, it is the antithesis of the ‘selfie’ and consumerist culture.  

Residency Line Up Nov – Dec 2017

Nov – Dec 2017 Residency Line Up

For the Winter 2017 Residency period, we are delighted to host 6 artists at the Sura Medura Residency.

Anders Rigg Musician and Sound Artist. You can read Anders’ Bio and blog posts here

Flick Ferdinando Physical Theatre Practitioner and Director. You can read Flicks’ Bio and blog posts here

Helen Ottaway Musician and Sound Artist. You can read Helen’s Bio and blog posts here

Kyna Hodges Photographic Artist. You can read Kyna’s Bio and blog posts here

Lorna Rees Theatre Director, Performer and Maker. You can read Lorna’s Bio and blog posts here

Rae-Yen Song Visual Artist. You can read Rae-Yen’s Bio and blog posts here

Residency Line Up Announced for Feb – March 2017

This year we are delighted to host 5 artists at the Sura Medura Residency.

Supported by Creative Scotland we have:

Lewis Sherlock | http://www.lewissherlockperformance.com | Physical Theatre Practitioner.
You can read Lewis’ Bio and blog posts here

Zoe Katsilerou | http://zoekatsilerou.com | Physical Performer, Singer, Theatre Maker and Musician.
You can read Zoe’s Bio and blog posts here

Ross Whyte | http://www.rosswhyte.com | Composer, Sound Artist and Electronic Musician.
You can read Ross’ Bio and blog posts here

Supported by Arts Council England and Freedom Festival Hull, we have:

Joshua Sofaer | http://www.joshuasofaer.com | Theatre Maker.
You can read Joshua’s Bio and blog posts here

Mary Genis | http://culturemixarts.co.uk | Visual and Performance Artist, Writer, Designer and Producer.
You can read Mary’s Bio and blog posts here


 

Subathra Subramanium

Subathra Subramaniam is an English choreographer, dancer, educator and artistic director of Sadhana Dance. Navigating the confluence of arts and science drawing from her belief that dance, her choreography can play a part in the public understanding and engagement with scientific concepts.

Sabda saha Pintura

We’re delighted to be able to share with you Sabda saha Pintura. Meaning ‘sound and picture’, this piece was created by artist Nichola Scrutton during her time in residency at Sura Medura.

To read more about Nichola’s experiences on residency, you can head here to read her blog.

You  can also read more about Nichola Scrutton’s work on her website: www.nicholascrutton.co.uk

Nichola Scrutton – Blog Post 2

Developing – 23rd November 2016

Sunbeach, where we are staying for the residency, is a great place and everyone is really helpful so eventually, after the first week, things settled down a bit.

sound-map2-nichola-scruttonIn week 2 Sumit arrived so there was a bit of getting-to-know-you time, and the three of us chatted regularly. We discovered common and differing ways in our processes and practices, and endeavoured to understand how each wanted to work. Because we all had phases where we needed to work alone, the gatherings were particularly valuable and supportive.

In week 3 we travelled to the University Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo and shared our work in presentations with students and staff. That was a really good day – as well as meeting people, we were fortunate to be shown round all the art departments then had lunch before travelling back.

With presentations done it was now time to develop a work. I decided early on that my main tools for gathering actual sound material would be binaural microphones and a portable recorder. Part of my plan was to respond in different ways to the environment for future reinterpretation in sound, for example through spontaneous mark making, but I knew I definitely wanted to make a sound work for our forthcoming residency event later in November.

I realised quite quickly that that idea was a bit challenging – for one thing, I was conflicted about spending too much time composing at the computer when there was so much to explore and experience. The heat, humidity, mozzie bites and limited equipment threw in additional curves to negotiate. I also knew I wanted to do some kind of performance. I decided just to keep gathering and see what happened.

The sound environment is generally very dense and I spent quite a bit of time actively listening and drawing. The area is divided – beach side and jungle side – and each has its own distinct soundscape. On the beach side the sea roars continuously as the surf thunders in and on the jungle side the air is thick with heat, bird song, massive trees rustling and people going about their daily lives. A railway line runs between the two through much of the area and regular trains, horns and bells punctuate the air. In the mix are a whole rich array of sounds – the hollering voices of people selling at markets and on the street, the honking and revving of huge buses overtaking other vehicles at breakneck speed (treacherous), thunderstorms and torrential rain, intermittent firework eruptions, the bread, fish and other vans making melodic announcements and so on.

At some point, I started to sense rhythms and cycles, and this was to become a guiding feature of the sound/music. In the end, a piece emerged in a collage form, through which I tried to evoke an essence of this wonderful place. I was initially concerned that the binaural recordings might be difficult to work with in this way because they were so dense but in actual fact they worked really well because the place and spatial content was so rich and varied. I could both cut between different sounds abruptly and find similarities that allowed me to morph from one sound to another. While doing this work I saw there was another strand I wanted to develop, working with voices, as well as continue with drawing/mark making – but that will come later. Ultimately there were many ideas…

Now it’s also time to start preparing for Moving Out and the Colombo Art Biennale…more on that in part 3.

Moving Through

presents

Moving Through

Noon – Midnight

Saturday 12th December

Sunbeach Hotel Hikkaduwa and Dodanduwa

On December 12th, Hikkaduwa and Dodanduwa will host an extraordinary international programme of performances, music and installations featuring performers and artists from 7 countries and Sri Lanka.

The programme is organised by Scottish based artist and producer Neil Butler of international arts organisation UZ Arts. Neil has been bringing international artists and performers to Sri Lanka since 200, organising the first Hikkaduwa Beach Carnival in 2005 and establishing the Sura Medura Residency for international artists the following year.

In 2007, Neil organised a Peace Concert with the Maharaja Organisation. Since its inception he has supported the Colombo Arts Biennale as International Curator and for the second edition as co-director. In February 2015 he brough an extraordinary range of artists to audiences in Hikkaduwa and Colombo, with the finale being the building of a life size paper boat by the artist Frank Bölter, which delighted and bemused audiences as Frank attempted to sail back to Germany.

For the December 12th event, he has brought together artists from Scotland, Austria, Nigeria, Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic and Ireland.

Over a 6-week residency the artists have created their own installations and performances as they response to the country and culture surrounding them. Over the last two weeks they have worked together to create a collective performance where they will be joined on the 12th of Decemeber for the finale by Sri Lankan artists and performers, and performers from the Afro Sri Lankan community of Puttalam and Sirambiadiya.

Said Neil Butler; “We invite the public to meet the artists, enjoy their installations and performances and then join in the party at the end of the day for a rice and curry banquet, singing, dancing and fireworks”.

The day starts at noon at Sunbeach Hotel in Hikkaduwa and continues with a journey to nearby fishing village of Dodanduwa, where there will be remarkable installations and performances centred around a wrecked trawler that has been turned into a musical instrument. There will be performances in and around the sea and then a party in the evening back at Sunbeach Hotel.

All the events are free but if you wish to join the artists for lunch or dinner, you should reserve a place by emailing – movingthrough@uzarts.com