ABOUT DUNCAN SPEAKMAN
My work explores how we use sound to navigate geographical, personal and political environments, creating experiences that physically and emotionally engage audiences in public spaces.
I often employ walking as both a process and/or an outcome of my work, partly because it is ‘within the speed culture of our time, a kind of resistance’ (Alys).
Many of my pieces, such as the soundwalks and live performances, are experienced on headphones while walking through public spaces. Sometimes they are pre-recorded, at other times they may use satellite positioning, live performers and realtime sound processing.
Other works include large-scale video projections, micro-documentaries and books.
Recently I have been continuing my research into sound and social spaces by developing street based games and subtlemobs.
Throughout my practice I have been trying to adopt Grierson’s definition of documentary as ‘the creative treatment of actuality’.