"Within is a subjective audio documentation of Graham Sutherland building in Coventry, where I studied as part of School of Art and Design.

The piece starts with a field recording soundscape of a loop around the building, manipulating and modulating a no input loop signal. The structure of the building is described through a repetitive beat, reminiscent of the windows shape and movement towards the building.

The field recording is replaced by an atmospheric noise, resulted from patching a circuit through touch and signal interruption of touch sensitivity plates. This brings the experience of the outside building towards an inner experience.

My experience in the building involved a process of learning and self discovery. As a result, the audio suddenly drops to a glimpse from a past recording of myself in the Graham Sutherland building, manipulated through interrupted signal. The reflective discovery of the self is highlighted through the audio segment of noise generated through breathing, closing the circuit.

A raw melodic fragment resulted from patching, slowly merges with the created atmospheric space, getting more modulated, distorted and playful. The sound of the outside building is back, this time merged with high notes and drone rumbles, complementing the repetitive description of the structure.
Graham Sutherland building detail at night

The melodic segment briefly comes back, just to develop and change into harsh noise. We’re back outside around the building, where the melody developed a playful beat. The self and the building end up informing each other and merging, with a continuous open ending, leaving space for future transformation."

– Cristiana Ilie