[Applause] I’d like you to close your eyes can you
I’d like you to close your eyes can you
I’d like you to close your eyes can you imagine that when you open them again
imagine that when you open them again
imagine that when you open them again that everything around you is unfamiliar
that everything around you is unfamiliar
that everything around you is unfamiliar and new ponder that for a moment now you
and new ponder that for a moment now you
and new ponder that for a moment now you can open them
what an extraordinary world we live in
what an extraordinary world we live in but how well do we really know it I’m an
but how well do we really know it I’m an
but how well do we really know it I’m an artist working and sound and imagery
artist working and sound and imagery
artist working and sound and imagery that’s me on the right I’m on a mission
that’s me on the right I’m on a mission
that’s me on the right I’m on a mission to experience the world around me very
to experience the world around me very
to experience the world around me very differently what you’ve just seen are
differently what you’ve just seen are
differently what you’ve just seen are excerpts from that over the last nine
excerpts from that over the last nine
excerpts from that over the last nine years for my quest as a composer and
years for my quest as a composer and
years for my quest as a composer and musician I’m aware that we don’t tend to
musician I’m aware that we don’t tend to
musician I’m aware that we don’t tend to analyze music when we listen to it
analyze music when we listen to it
analyze music when we listen to it particularly instrumental music we allow
particularly instrumental music we allow
particularly instrumental music we allow it to just flow into us but what about
it to just flow into us but what about
it to just flow into us but what about visual information that seems to be
visual information that seems to be
visual information that seems to be different my story starts here in
different my story starts here in
different my story starts here in Iceland in 1999 I was on holiday but I
Iceland in 1999 I was on holiday but I
Iceland in 1999 I was on holiday but I was also filming and collecting sounds
was also filming and collecting sounds
was also filming and collecting sounds I’m always up to something
like recording geothermal crackling
like recording geothermal crackling under the surface of the earth
under the surface of the earth
under the surface of the earth I loved the landscape of Iceland the
I loved the landscape of Iceland the
I loved the landscape of Iceland the forms the patterns and the quality of
forms the patterns and the quality of
forms the patterns and the quality of light and the volatility I wondered why
light and the volatility I wondered why
light and the volatility I wondered why some environments affected me more than
some environments affected me more than
some environments affected me more than others and why I liked some more than
others and why I liked some more than
others and why I liked some more than others what was it about them how was I
others what was it about them how was I
others what was it about them how was I experiencing them differently flying out
experiencing them differently flying out
experiencing them differently flying out of Iceland the extraordinary landscape
of Iceland the extraordinary landscape
of Iceland the extraordinary landscape from the air really captivated me and it
from the air really captivated me and it
from the air really captivated me and it lit a spark for something here’s me was
lit a spark for something here’s me was
lit a spark for something here’s me was my older brother Johnny he was born very
my older brother Johnny he was born very
my older brother Johnny he was born very premature brain-damaged at birth and has
premature brain-damaged at birth and has
premature brain-damaged at birth and has cerebral palsy his language is limited
cerebral palsy his language is limited
cerebral palsy his language is limited but his experience of the world is very
but his experience of the world is very
but his experience of the world is very visual with great attention to what I
visual with great attention to what I
visual with great attention to what I might see is minor details what could I
might see is minor details what could I
might see is minor details what could I learn from him I became a father to
learn from him I became a father to
learn from him I became a father to fredericka in the year 2000 my wonderful
fredericka in the year 2000 my wonderful
fredericka in the year 2000 my wonderful little teacher showed me a lot about how
little teacher showed me a lot about how
little teacher showed me a lot about how a pre verbal child was experienced in
a pre verbal child was experienced in
a pre verbal child was experienced in the world around her and I wondered how
the world around her and I wondered how
the world around her and I wondered how the development of language might affect
the development of language might affect
the development of language might affect that to be lose something when we start
that to be lose something when we start
that to be lose something when we start to speak and name things could we
to speak and name things could we
to speak and name things could we experience with no analysis how would
experience with no analysis how would
experience with no analysis how would that be do we know what is real or
that be do we know what is real or
that be do we know what is real or imagined beauties and the eye of the
imagined beauties and the eye of the
imagined beauties and the eye of the beholder but what does that mean if we
beholder but what does that mean if we
beholder but what does that mean if we don’t actually know what we’re looking
don’t actually know what we’re looking
don’t actually know what we’re looking at these images are minut but they could
at these images are minut but they could
at these images are minut but they could be really huge looking at the world as a
be really huge looking at the world as a
be really huge looking at the world as a child was a beautifully simple idea but
child was a beautifully simple idea but
child was a beautifully simple idea but I had no idea how to do it
I had no idea how to do it
I had no idea how to do it Iceland was calling me I had a dream or
Iceland was calling me I had a dream or
Iceland was calling me I had a dream or an obsession to film from the sky
an obsession to film from the sky
an obsession to film from the sky madness or inspiration I don’t really
madness or inspiration I don’t really
madness or inspiration I don’t really know but I had no money to do it so I
know but I had no money to do it so I
know but I had no money to do it so I reached my house and hired a helicopter
reached my house and hired a helicopter
reached my house and hired a helicopter and a gyro-stabilized camera
and a gyro-stabilized camera
and a gyro-stabilized camera call me an obsessive I didn’t think I
call me an obsessive I didn’t think I
call me an obsessive I didn’t think I get a second chance at this so I
get a second chance at this so I
get a second chance at this so I accessed the best technology I could
accessed the best technology I could
accessed the best technology I could find to try out an idea to experience
find to try out an idea to experience
find to try out an idea to experience the world around me differently
the world around me differently
the world around me differently Iceland’s an amazing country and I had a
Iceland’s an amazing country and I had a
Iceland’s an amazing country and I had a wonderful experience there I tried to
wonderful experience there I tried to
wonderful experience there I tried to look through the lens with curiosity and
look through the lens with curiosity and
look through the lens with curiosity and openness without analyzing remember when
openness without analyzing remember when
openness without analyzing remember when you opened your eyes at the beginning of
you opened your eyes at the beginning of
you opened your eyes at the beginning of this did you have a slightly different
this did you have a slightly different
this did you have a slightly different perspective here’s me in the middle of
perspective here’s me in the middle of
perspective here’s me in the middle of the world’s third-largest glacier they
the world’s third-largest glacier they
the world’s third-largest glacier they said nothing to do with the film shoot I
said nothing to do with the film shoot I
said nothing to do with the film shoot I just wanted to be left there for a
just wanted to be left there for a
just wanted to be left there for a little while
little while
little while everywhere I looked miles around in
everywhere I looked miles around in
everywhere I looked miles around in every direction it was white
every direction it was white
every direction it was white thankfully they picked me up again on
thankfully they picked me up again on
thankfully they picked me up again on this film shoot I really wanted to slow
this film shoot I really wanted to slow
this film shoot I really wanted to slow down my world as well and I worked for
down my world as well and I worked for
down my world as well and I worked for the first time with vision researchers
the first time with vision researchers
the first time with vision researchers phantoms flow motion cameras slow motion
phantoms flow motion cameras slow motion
phantoms flow motion cameras slow motion gives us the opportunity to see subtle
gives us the opportunity to see subtle
gives us the opportunity to see subtle changes that happen and constantly
changes that happen and constantly
changes that happen and constantly change in environments in this language
change in environments in this language
change in environments in this language dominated world I was trying to make a
dominated world I was trying to make a
dominated world I was trying to make a film that shared its secrets without
film that shared its secrets without
film that shared its secrets without words I called it the air hold still on
words I called it the air hold still on
words I called it the air hold still on my breath it was about experiencing
my breath it was about experiencing
my breath it was about experiencing beauty through abstraction and ambiguity
beauty through abstraction and ambiguity
beauty through abstraction and ambiguity but no context or analysis like a piece
but no context or analysis like a piece
but no context or analysis like a piece of music novelty can give a massive
of music novelty can give a massive
of music novelty can give a massive release of the neurotransmitter of a
release of the neurotransmitter of a
release of the neurotransmitter of a dopamine into the reward systems in the
dopamine into the reward systems in the
dopamine into the reward systems in the brain could look in the new at the world
brain could look in the new at the world
brain could look in the new at the world make me feel happier I’d started
make me feel happier I’d started
make me feel happier I’d started something I couldn’t stop I took the
something I couldn’t stop I took the
something I couldn’t stop I took the finished film to the Cannes Film
finished film to the Cannes Film
finished film to the Cannes Film Festival to see what might happen there
Festival to see what might happen there
Festival to see what might happen there I met David Lynch’s producer who
I met David Lynch’s producer who
I met David Lynch’s producer who encouraged me to turn it into a feature
encouraged me to turn it into a feature
encouraged me to turn it into a feature film that’s the kind of guy I can’t
film that’s the kind of guy I can’t
film that’s the kind of guy I can’t ignore this was getting bigger I needed
ignore this was getting bigger I needed
ignore this was getting bigger I needed some help
some help
some help I was now in the world of nonverbal
I was now in the world of nonverbal
I was now in the world of nonverbal filmmaking so I sought out a real master
filmmaking so I sought out a real master
filmmaking so I sought out a real master a hero of mine called godfrey reggio he
a hero of mine called godfrey reggio he
a hero of mine called godfrey reggio he made the cutsy trilogy starting with
made the cutsy trilogy starting with
made the cutsy trilogy starting with Koyaanisqatsi in 1982 the music was by
Koyaanisqatsi in 1982 the music was by
Koyaanisqatsi in 1982 the music was by Philip Glass and had the support of
Philip Glass and had the support of
Philip Glass and had the support of Francis Ford Coppola this was a film
Francis Ford Coppola this was a film
Francis Ford Coppola this was a film without words leaving the meaning up to
without words leaving the meaning up to
without words leaving the meaning up to the viewers Godfrey said it’s not for
the viewers Godfrey said it’s not for
the viewers Godfrey said it’s not for the lack of love of the language that
the lack of love of the language that
the lack of love of the language that these films have no words it language no
these films have no words it language no
these films have no words it language no longer describes the world in which we
longer describes the world in which we
longer describes the world in which we live language was limiting could I move
live language was limiting could I move
live language was limiting could I move beyond it I teamed up with the producer
beyond it I teamed up with the producer
beyond it I teamed up with the producer Rob Alexander from perfect motion and
Rob Alexander from perfect motion and
Rob Alexander from perfect motion and things then really got organized the
things then really got organized the
things then really got organized the project became breath and I got some
project became breath and I got some
project became breath and I got some funding finally we could do more aspects
funding finally we could do more aspects
funding finally we could do more aspects of the project we put together the
of the project we put together the
of the project we put together the creative team and an academic team that
creative team and an academic team that
creative team and an academic team that was drawn from six UK universities
was drawn from six UK universities
was drawn from six UK universities including Oxford and Cambridge we were
including Oxford and Cambridge we were
including Oxford and Cambridge we were mapping the human life experience
mapping the human life experience
mapping the human life experience through the metaphor of landscape I was
through the metaphor of landscape I was
through the metaphor of landscape I was Restless though I wanted to head north
Restless though I wanted to head north
Restless though I wanted to head north again and shoot something really tricky
again and shoot something really tricky
again and shoot something really tricky I was on a shoestring budget but somehow
I was on a shoestring budget but somehow
I was on a shoestring budget but somehow I managed to convince one of the world’s
I managed to convince one of the world’s
I managed to convince one of the world’s best camera manufacturers to support me
best camera manufacturers to support me
best camera manufacturers to support me Ari I ended up in the Arctic Circle with
Ari I ended up in the Arctic Circle with
Ari I ended up in the Arctic Circle with one of the best low-light cameras in the
one of the best low-light cameras in the
one of the best low-light cameras in the world I loved having access to this kind
world I loved having access to this kind
world I loved having access to this kind of gear but I had no idea how to use
of gear but I had no idea how to use
of gear but I had no idea how to use this camera I was on my own in almost
this camera I was on my own in almost
this camera I was on my own in almost constant darkness than minus 20 I heard
constant darkness than minus 20 I heard
constant darkness than minus 20 I heard it out eventually I was there to film
it out eventually I was there to film
it out eventually I was there to film the rora borealis but would it come out
the rora borealis but would it come out
the rora borealis but would it come out could I capture it the stakes were high
could I capture it the stakes were high
could I capture it the stakes were high this was think or swim oh I had six days
this was think or swim oh I had six days
this was think or swim oh I had six days of that
of that
of that and then thankfully it happened it came
and then thankfully it happened it came
and then thankfully it happened it came out and it was amazing
out and it was amazing
out and it was amazing here’s me shot on a 360-degree camera in
here’s me shot on a 360-degree camera in
here’s me shot on a 360-degree camera in the middle of the night deep snow
the middle of the night deep snow
the middle of the night deep snow filming these extraordinary displays or
filming these extraordinary displays or
filming these extraordinary displays or the merry dancers as my or Cajun mother
the merry dancers as my or Cajun mother
the merry dancers as my or Cajun mother calls it I was absolutely thrilled to be
calls it I was absolutely thrilled to be
calls it I was absolutely thrilled to be out there filming this one of the
out there filming this one of the
out there filming this one of the highlights of my life back home I
highlights of my life back home I
highlights of my life back home I started to film other landscapes the
started to film other landscapes the
started to film other landscapes the human body could I fly over the human
human body could I fly over the human
human body could I fly over the human body like had done with a helicopter
body like had done with a helicopter
body like had done with a helicopter over Iceland for that I needed the right
over Iceland for that I needed the right
over Iceland for that I needed the right technology and this large green beast
technology and this large green beast
technology and this large green beast here is called a Myro
here is called a Myro
here is called a Myro it’s a motion control system and it’s
it’s a motion control system and it’s
it’s a motion control system and it’s made by a company called Mark Roberts
made by a company called Mark Roberts
made by a company called Mark Roberts motion control and they won an Oscar for
motion control and they won an Oscar for
motion control and they won an Oscar for it and that’s an ultra close-up lens
it and that’s an ultra close-up lens
it and that’s an ultra close-up lens called a borescope for this kind of
called a borescope for this kind of
called a borescope for this kind of project I needed the right kind of
project I needed the right kind of
project I needed the right kind of people as well the kind of person who
people as well the kind of person who
people as well the kind of person who had been filming insects was David
had been filming insects was David
had been filming insects was David Attenborough for decades Rob
Attenborough for decades Rob
Attenborough for decades Rob Hollingworth was my guy he was on the
Hollingworth was my guy he was on the
Hollingworth was my guy he was on the camera and he joined a great team on
camera and he joined a great team on
camera and he joined a great team on breath of people helping me realize this
breath of people helping me realize this
breath of people helping me realize this rather mad vision of mine I wondered how
rather mad vision of mine I wondered how
rather mad vision of mine I wondered how close I could get before it was
close I could get before it was
close I could get before it was unmanageable when you work in an extreme
unmanageable when you work in an extreme
unmanageable when you work in an extreme close-up shots can be completely ruined
close-up shots can be completely ruined
close-up shots can be completely ruined but any minor movements in the equipment
but any minor movements in the equipment
but any minor movements in the equipment vibrations or breathing but not just
vibrations or breathing but not just
vibrations or breathing but not just breathing lymphatic twitches in the body
breathing lymphatic twitches in the body
breathing lymphatic twitches in the body things I couldn’t even see with a naked
things I couldn’t even see with a naked
things I couldn’t even see with a naked eye even though I had the best equipment
eye even though I had the best equipment
eye even though I had the best equipment and the best people the first day was a
and the best people the first day was a
and the best people the first day was a total disaster well it was to me I was
total disaster well it was to me I was
total disaster well it was to me I was demoralized I only had a few shots but I
demoralized I only had a few shots but I
demoralized I only had a few shots but I was seeing new and amazing landscapes
was seeing new and amazing landscapes
was seeing new and amazing landscapes right there in front of me we had
right there in front of me we had
right there in front of me we had another go with some new technology and
another go with some new technology and
another go with some new technology and a new approach Pablo Picasso said it’d
a new approach Pablo Picasso said it’d
a new approach Pablo Picasso said it’d take him took him a lifetime to learn to
take him took him a lifetime to learn to
take him took him a lifetime to learn to paint like a child I really understood
paint like a child I really understood
paint like a child I really understood that now we filmed the very young
that now we filmed the very young
that now we filmed the very young mapping the human journey to old age
mapping the human journey to old age
mapping the human journey to old age maybe our bodies weren’t so familiar
maybe our bodies weren’t so familiar
maybe our bodies weren’t so familiar after all I was entranced by the
after all I was entranced by the
after all I was entranced by the ambiguity of body terrains and I started
ambiguity of body terrains and I started
ambiguity of body terrains and I started seeing parallels to what I’d shot in
seeing parallels to what I’d shot in
seeing parallels to what I’d shot in Iceland lots of intense observation and
Iceland lots of intense observation and
Iceland lots of intense observation and comparison so here’s a closer for my eye
comparison so here’s a closer for my eye
comparison so here’s a closer for my eye Iceland in Norway were inspirational but
Iceland in Norway were inspirational but
Iceland in Norway were inspirational but what about the landscapes near in my
what about the landscapes near in my
what about the landscapes near in my home as fascinated by what’s all around
home as fascinated by what’s all around
home as fascinated by what’s all around me like a toddler crawling around in the
me like a toddler crawling around in the
me like a toddler crawling around in the undergrowth I could find very different
undergrowth I could find very different
undergrowth I could find very different worlds like the water droplets on this
worlds like the water droplets on this
worlds like the water droplets on this leaf I loved getting lost in these
leaf I loved getting lost in these
leaf I loved getting lost in these places time disappears I wondered how
places time disappears I wondered how
places time disappears I wondered how much of the world around me I was really
much of the world around me I was really
much of the world around me I was really aware of as fascinated by the symbiotic
aware of as fascinated by the symbiotic
aware of as fascinated by the symbiotic relationship between life-forms I
relationship between life-forms I
relationship between life-forms I started cultivating mold on fruit and
started cultivating mold on fruit and
started cultivating mold on fruit and vege in my airing cupboard for some
vege in my airing cupboard for some
vege in my airing cupboard for some reason my family had a problem with this
reason my family had a problem with this
reason my family had a problem with this I could see a whole new world on a
I could see a whole new world on a
I could see a whole new world on a decaying orange landscape of a distant
decaying orange landscape of a distant
decaying orange landscape of a distant planet perhaps an abundance of life
planet perhaps an abundance of life
planet perhaps an abundance of life could we live in balance like this with
could we live in balance like this with
could we live in balance like this with nature could we develop a greater
nature could we develop a greater
nature could we develop a greater awareness of the interconnectedness
awareness of the interconnectedness
awareness of the interconnectedness between the diverse environments we
between the diverse environments we
between the diverse environments we inhabit our survival relies on that
inhabit our survival relies on that
inhabit our survival relies on that technology had transformed since my
technology had transformed since my
technology had transformed since my first slow-motion exploits phantom
first slow-motion exploits phantom
first slow-motion exploits phantom cameras could now slow down motion by
cameras could now slow down motion by
cameras could now slow down motion by 40,000 times an eye blink would take
40,000 times an eye blink would take
40,000 times an eye blink would take over three minutes at this speed I
over three minutes at this speed I
over three minutes at this speed I worked with the world’s top slow-motion
worked with the world’s top slow-motion
worked with the world’s top slow-motion camera and did some experiments and blew
camera and did some experiments and blew
camera and did some experiments and blew things up slowed them down and saw what
things up slowed them down and saw what
things up slowed them down and saw what I didn’t normally see this is butane gas
I didn’t normally see this is butane gas
I didn’t normally see this is butane gas and water this was about bypassing the
and water this was about bypassing the
and water this was about bypassing the analytical brain and encouraging a sense
analytical brain and encouraging a sense
analytical brain and encouraging a sense of mystery and unknowing to challenge
of mystery and unknowing to challenge
of mystery and unknowing to challenge how we see our world
can be very misleading but how
can be very misleading but how misleading I set up a chemistry lab at
misleading I set up a chemistry lab at
misleading I set up a chemistry lab at home I started filming in Petri dishes
to see the behavioral and visual
to see the behavioral and visual similarities between very different
similarities between very different
similarities between very different environments on very different scales
macro within the micro distant planets
macro within the micro distant planets again I had a burning desire to return
again I had a burning desire to return
again I had a burning desire to return to Iceland with phantoms top camera I
to Iceland with phantoms top camera I
to Iceland with phantoms top camera I needed another bite of this it was
needed another bite of this it was
needed another bite of this it was little money left in the budget but my
little money left in the budget but my
little money left in the budget but my crazy idea somehow captured the
crazy idea somehow captured the
crazy idea somehow captured the imagination of another cameraman
imagination of another cameraman
imagination of another cameraman manufacturer Vision Research who made
manufacturer Vision Research who made
manufacturer Vision Research who made the phantom and it happened here I was
the phantom and it happened here I was
the phantom and it happened here I was again working with a camera worth well
again working with a camera worth well
again working with a camera worth well over a hundred thousand pounds but I use
over a hundred thousand pounds but I use
over a hundred thousand pounds but I use it I was reading the manual on the plane
it I was reading the manual on the plane
it I was reading the manual on the plane on the way out I had to learn fast I was
on the way out I had to learn fast I was
on the way out I had to learn fast I was filming the majesty of waterfalls and
filming the majesty of waterfalls and
filming the majesty of waterfalls and the twisting forms of geothermal mud and
the twisting forms of geothermal mud and
the twisting forms of geothermal mud and explosive geezers so where do I go next
explosive geezers so where do I go next
explosive geezers so where do I go next well my exploration always continues I’m
well my exploration always continues I’m
well my exploration always continues I’m always shooting something new and
always shooting something new and
always shooting something new and learning I hope to draw all the strands
learning I hope to draw all the strands
learning I hope to draw all the strands of the project together into a finished
of the project together into a finished
of the project together into a finished film and interactive art installation to
film and interactive art installation to
film and interactive art installation to bring the power of a nonverbal journey
bring the power of a nonverbal journey
bring the power of a nonverbal journey to a curious audience like this one can
to a curious audience like this one can
to a curious audience like this one can we listen to the earth it gives us so
we listen to the earth it gives us so
we listen to the earth it gives us so much it’s not a resource but the source
much it’s not a resource but the source
much it’s not a resource but the source of life can we live in harmony with the
of life can we live in harmony with the
of life can we live in harmony with the spaces we inhabit and look with more
spaces we inhabit and look with more
spaces we inhabit and look with more curiosity that this awe-inspiring world
curiosity that this awe-inspiring world
curiosity that this awe-inspiring world or as William Blake said to see a world
or as William Blake said to see a world
or as William Blake said to see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a
in a grain of sand and a heaven in a
in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower thank you
wild flower thank you
wild flower thank you [Applause]
”
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