‘A Story of Us’, created by Mina Salimi, a British-Iranian film director, is a soundscape commissioned by Somerset House, for the observation wheel of This Bright Land festival.
In the first glance ‘A Story of Us' is uncanny conversations between a British ex-pilot, an Afghan journalist, a Ukrainian dancer, and…Londoners who often sit in the tube with no interaction, here talk about difficult and intimate subjects with one another. But do they? Yes and no. The artist, Mina Salimi, recorded each interview separately. In fact none of the individuals met each other. Yet their voices are arranged like pieces of a puzzle as if they are in the same space. Not only do they converse, but also they connect with one another empathically. This fabrication of reality that is interwoven seamlessly suggests the possibility of connection between people from all walks of life. In a big city like London, where isolation is a daily experience for many, this is reminding audiences that we have more in common than that which divides us.
As part of this, Somerset House brings you Voices of Tomorrow produced by seven young people and Audio Producer, Harry Murdoch, to create a dynamic, heartfelt soundscape. Voices of Tomorrow is a platform for young people to express and share their experiences and beliefs that they have when thinking about the capital and their interpretations of family. The soundscape has been generously supported by the Kusuma Trust.
