This Is Us is an portrait of a community- a series of photographs placed around the city that people can interact with to hear the stories of local people. Touching the portraits triggers a series of audio interviews with the subject- what makes the city feel like home, what their dreams and aspirations are, their experience of the past and present within their community and their thoughts on change and the future. This Is Us presents a canvas from which out of towners can gain a deeper understanding of a community, and the community itself a snapshot of its existence. We’re addressing this year’s theme, X, by choosing 10 community members to create an indicator of a community, to provide coordinates of a society through marking personal experiences that reflect a wider place.

Music Remix Wall: Sounds of the City The Sounds of the City Remix Wall takes its inspiration from Kingston- landmarks, countryside, notable figures and industries to present an interactive graphic that attendees can touch to play music. Interacting with hotspots on the wall triggers an unfolding remix inspired by the locality, where natural sounds and musical beats combine to create an interactive mural. For us, X can be seen as both a collection of things and a crossroads, a place to stand and witness multiple paths, objects and experiences. Sounds of the City presents an opportunity to explore these pathways through an interactive graphic, to understand the collections and layers that make up a place and a community.

Madeleine Kelleyan and Dr Kate Stone

Madeleine and Kate create installations at festivals around the world, including Bestival, Nocturnal Wonderland and SXSW. Kate has a Phd in physics and is a TED speaker, and Madeleine studied design at Central Saint Martins in London. They combine their backgrounds in design and science to create interactive, collaborative experiences that immerse audiences in a theme with touch sensitive graphics and music. During the daytime, they head up Novalia, an interactive technology company creating brand experiences and interactive consumer products, where Kate, the CEO, invents interactive tech and Madeleine and the rest of Novalia’s team develops ways to commercially apply it.

www.novalia.co.uk

www.madeleinekelleyan.com