A gallery in Sheffield is hosting a free exhibition by Freya Dooley, recipient of the Artes Mundi Wales Venice 10 commission and former Creative Wales fellow at the British School at Rome.
“False Note” is Freya’s latest solo exhibition, combining writing, film, sound, music, and performance.
Freya began researching her exhibition whilst in Rome in 2021, and later produced the exhibition over 18 months.
She was invited to Site Gallery to develop her exhibition last year, supported by a commission by Artes Mundi and Wales Venice 10 in 2022.
When asked about why she was interested in Site Gallery as the home for her work, Freya said: “I think Sheffield has a great community of artists and there’s a lot going on, especially in relation to sound and music.”
Freya first encountered Sheffield’s arts scene in 2017 during a year-long peer-led alternative learning programme, Syllabus.
She has also worked with Arts Catalyst, an arts organisation based on The Moor which focuses on environmental and social projects.
Freya has also previously worked with a number of local artists, including Ashley Holmes and current Bloc Projects artist Chris Alton.
“False Note” explores themes of replacement connection through the main protagonist’s experiences of work.
Freya uses spatial sound mixing, architectural installation and accessible seating to amplify how the work will be experienced and encountered.
She said: “When developing the work and the space it occupies, comfort (or discomfort), fluctuations of attention, and accessibility are all creative considerations which inform how things come together.
“I quite often work in an iterative way: where works begin as texts, sound installations or performances, and then later become films.”
Freya’s inspiration comes from varied influences including music, books, films and conversations. When asked about the wider context of her work, Freya said: “The explicit subjects of my work are often small-scale and domestic, underpinned by more expansive themes and concerns.
“My reference points are really varied. The work never takes shape in a straightforward way. Sound design is an important aspect of my art practice, so I often go to live and electronic music and film scores for inspiration. Another thing that influenced False Note is my ongoing involvement with my trade union. I’m interested in our collective and individual experiences of work and how we establish a sense of value within the systems we operate under.”
The exhibition will conclude with a live performance in collaboration with musician Emma Daman Thomas, supported by PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music on May 30.
Freya said: “We’ll be composing some new music together which expands on the film scores. The dynamics of performing live, and working with other people, always feels refreshing and keeps things interesting and unpredictable. We’re not sure what shape the performance will take yet – but it’ll be an experiment, and it’s fun to work on.”
“False Note” is on display at Site Gallery from 7 March until 26 May.
To find out more about Site Gallery and their upcoming events, visit their website.
