Manja Ristić & Mark Vernon – Sound Postcards from the Centre of the Periphery
Meagre Resource / mere027 DL
This album unites two specific sensibilities that for many years have been embedded in the domain of sound and radio arts. Although they arose from very different environments, their work explores similar issues around preserving personal sonic histories. By stirring up nostalgia and collective memory, both artists often refer to the importance of individual experiences in the poetic “body” of micro-communities.
The artistic practice of both creators has been deeply immersed in the sonic strata of space and the imaginary narratives that emerge from it. A dedication to the culture of memory, the sounding of lost voices and an unorthodox approach to re-composing the soundscape, conveniently unites these two experimenters in a collaboration that arises from research into one particularly inspiring locality – the island of Korčula.
In addition to their own field recordings the artists were given access to the audio archives of the local radio station, including sounds of local folk customs, traditional songs, festivities and music. The strong anthropological emphasis in this collection of works is intended to encourage a deeper consideration of the coexistence of people and the environment in a historically dense climate. The appropriation of the hidden narratives of a small town on the fringes of the European Union opens up new fields of reflection on identity that looks back at the “center of the periphery”, pointing to the importance of “small” spaces in the creation of European heritage.
The self released album is available as a download through Bandcamp here.
‘Sound postcards from the center of the periphery’ will be stored permanently in the audio archives of Radio Korčula. Who knows, maybe someone will dig them out in 50 years and say: “…there you go! This will make your head ring!”
Special thanks to Radio Korčula, Gordana Šuperak and Ivan Sardelic Šore. To Pere from the Marasa printing house and to all the fellow citizens of Korčula who found themselves on this album intentionally or accidentally.