If Homes Had Ears

2022

Across the spring and early summer of 2022 I had the pleasure of bringing together a group of people at the British Library to listen to and reflect on sounds from the home. This project formed a part of the British Library’s Unlocking our Sound Heritage initiative, focusing on engaging the public in the Library’s expansive sound archive that hosts millions of sounds.

Working in partnership with Opening Doors London, If Homes Had Ears invited LGBTQIA+ people aged 50 and over to consider what home has meant to them, past and present, through the wonder of sound.

Each session explored a collection of curated sounds related to specific rooms within and outside the home: kitchens, gardens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Combing a mixture of ambient sounds and oral histories, those participating created visual responses to memories, thoughts, hopes and dreams for their past, present and future selves.

I then photographed their works and designed a book. In our final session I led the group on a bookbinding session, giving them the opportunity to bind and take away their own copies of their work.